Good news?
The highest court in South Africa has ruled legalising the use of cannabis by adults in private places. In addition, the judges in a unanimous ruling have also legalised the growing of marijuana for private use.
The ruling is binding although South Africa’s government had been against its legalisation.
Passing the judgement, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said, “It will not be a criminal offence for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private for his or her personal consumption.”
However, it will not be legal to use cannabis in public, sell or distribute it. Cannabis is known as dagga in South Africa.
The court has given parliament 2 years to change the law to indicate the ruling. It means that adults who use the drug in private will not be arrested until the law is amended.
The court did not state the quantity safe for a person to grow and has left that for the parliament to decide.
South Africa is now one of the countries to legalise marijuana. Lesotho and Zimbabwe are countries in Africa where the use of marijuana is legal.
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