Legalising Cannabis for Cancer: Benefits of Indigenous Cannabis Therapeutics

The majority of African people use indigenous medicines for various ailments. This includes the use of cannabis to treat cancer. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer are now on the increase amongst African people. The use of conventional western medicine as a modality of treatment represents an insurmountable financial burden for most African governments, including South Africa. This propels the majority of people to turn to traditional medicines such as cannabis. A number of countries in the world, including several states in the United States of America, have legalised the use of cannabis, either for medicinal use only or with complete licence. This policy brief examines the history, science, policies and laws that may play a determining role in the legalisation of cannabis in South Africa. Cannabis, like several other herbal medicines, has been scientifically proven to be effective in the treatment of a number of ailments, including cancer, and yet it remains illegal in South Africa.