Cannabis in South Africa is an indigenous plant with a rich historical, social, and cultural significance for various communities. South Africa’s cannabis policy evolution has been marked by significant shifts, particularly following decriminalisation by the Constitutional Court in 2018, and the passing of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill in May 2024, legalising cannabis for those 18-years-old and above.
Prior to the lifting of the prohibition of cannabis in 2018, advocates pressured the government to amend laws restricting cannabis that were first established in 1922 to allow exceptions for medical use, religious practices, and other purposes. The Afrikaans term commonly used to refer to cannabis is dagga (pronounced [ˈdaχa]), derived from the Khoikhoi word dacha, which was adopted by early European colonial settlers in the Dutch Cape Colony.
Cannabis is believed to have been introduced to Africa by early Arab or Indian traders, centuries ago. It was already in widespread use among South Africa's indigenous Khoisan and Bantu peoples before European settlement in the Cape in 1652. Additionally, it was traditionally utilized by Basotho communities to facilitate childbirth. According to author Hazel Crampton, historical Afrikaner recipes for teas and foods incorporated the use of cannabis. The plant's use was primarily associated with traditional African populations and individuals of lower economic status.
Long-term research conducted by the Medical Research Council (MRC) indicates that the number of cannabis users in South Africa was 2.2 million in 2004, which increased to 3.2 million by 2008. In 2003, Interpol ranked South Africa as the world's fourth-largest cannabis producer, and the Institute for Security Studies reported that a significant portion of cannabis seized in the United Kingdom, and a third seized globally, originated from South Africa.
