Durban – Growing cannabis is being punted as a means to accelerate access to economic opportunities for millions of ordinary members of society throughout the corners of KwaZulu-Natal.
After a visit to Canelands Farm, Verulam on Friday, a statement issued jointly by the MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Siboniso Duma and MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development Super Zuma gave the growing of cannabis the thumbs up.
“Today, we wish to reiterate our position that we are a generation of leaders deployed to accelerate access to economic opportunities for millions of ordinary members of society throughout the corners of the province,” the statement said.
“We are firmly behind the KZN government’s decision to use state resources to champion radical interventions that will fast-track the entry of our people into the cannabis industry.
“We want them to be wealth creators and drivers of socio-economic development in the land of their birth.”
The joint statement recalled that this move to support the growing of cannabis was the resolution of the inaugural two-day “KZN Cannabis – Hemp Conference & Expo” held in October in Berville.
“Our visit to Opulence Pharmaceuticals this morning should therefore be viewed within the context of our determination to unlock about R107 billion of value in the local cannabis industry for the benefit of our communities,” the statement said.
“In particular, during the visit, some of the 660 emerging growers who are permit holders were exposed to cutting-edge technology.
“The long-term plan is to enable them to acquire technical skills required to produce medicinal cannabis of high quality that meets global standards.
“We express our gratitude to Opulence Pharmaceuticals, a leader in cannabis production in the country.
“They have teamed up with the provincial government to facilitate training and mentorship for our emerging farmers.”
This partnership comes at the right time as Opulence is gearing up for its first export to Australia in the next few weeks.
“Being the first youth and privately owned company to operate in this space, we have no doubt that their wealth of experience will ignite a cannabis revolution that will generate wealth for our people and grow rural and township economies,” the statement said.
“We make this statement to underline the fact that in the past – our great-grandparents were guillotined by the apartheid government.
“This was a barbaric act used as a punishment to anyone regarded as a cannabis grower and trader.
“The issuing of permits and licences to the new generation of growers is a special tribute to the pioneers of this natural herb.”
The statement added: “We welcome the fact that this democratic government has listened to our submission against police vetting.
“This will no longer be used as a requirement for our people to grow cannabis.
“We received complaints that this was being weaponised to ensure the exclusion of Africans in particular.
“By and large, we are making a giant leap in terms of ensuring that our communities are involved in the entire value chain of medicinal cannabis – from planting, harvesting, packaging, and exporting.
“This is a proud moment for the sector and the province at large, especially noting that this operation is aligned fully with the ANC government’s economic transformation agenda. “We commit to establish more than 6 cannabis processing plants similar to Opulence in various district municipalities.”
The statement said the public-private partnerships will be able to take full advantage of the province’s ideal temperature and sunny weather which is conducive to growing cannabis.
“We call on all other established businesses to partner with the government in the quest to accelerate inclusive growth and development of the citizens of this country and in particular our province,” the statement said.
