Since the famous court ruling about legalising of Marijuana in South Africa, we have been receiving queries about Marijuana on a daily base.
What exactly did the court ruled and how does it affect the use and possession of Cannabis in our county?
In September 2018 the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that the personal use of cannabis is not a criminal offence and that the ban on private possession, consumption and cultivation of the plant for own use by adults is unconstitutional.
However, let us not confuse private use and possession with trading, sale and commercial use. The use of Marijuana in public is still illegal and not permitted, as well as commercial cultivation and selling.
In a nutshell – Cannabis cannot be consumed in public, cannot be distributed or sold, nor used by minors.
What we offer is pure CBD based products that are THC free. THC is the active ingredient, which has psychoactive effects.
Let’s take a closer look at the two most popular cannabis plants, Marijuana and Hemp. They look similar but their chemical composition, application and effects are quite different.
At a basic level it comes down to the ratio and type of cannabinoids present in the plant. Both Marijuana and Hemp contain the two most common cannabinoids, CBD and THC (Tetrahydrocannabidiol), but in different quantities.
THC, which is psychoactive and makes you feel “high”, is found in high doses in Marijuana, and CBD is the dominant cannabinoid in Hemp. While hemp does contain miniscule amounts of THC, it is definitely not enough to intoxicate or impair in any way.
Hemp is also a very old agricultural crop that has been cultivated as cattle feed. Hemp also has industrial applications such as the production of hempcrete and fabric.
The potential health benefits of CBD (cannabidiol) are many. The compound may relieve pain, reduce inflammation, reduce anxiety, help fight cancer, treat some neurological disorders and seizures, relieve nausea, promote good sleep/help with insomnia and promote cardiovascular health.
How does CBD work?
Our nervous system is the pathway for all messages to and from our brain, and contains a large number of receptors. These receptors use specific molecules in order to transmit messages.
One of these “messaging systems” is the so-called endocannabinoid system (ECS). ECS receptors are located in the human brain and in the peripheral nervous system – spinal cord and nerves. In the brain, the receptors reside in areas responsible for perception, concentration, memory and movement. That’s why the ECS is involved in the regulation of many physiological processes including the feeling of pain, mood, and appetite. The ECS is also triggered by physical exercise, causing the so-called “Runner’s High”.
Basically our bodies are hardwired to interface with cannabinoids and we actually create them naturally.
In research, CBD has shown anti-spasmodic, anti-psychotic, anti-convulsive, and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, using CBD is a good way of muscle and general relaxation. It also alleviates everyday stress and makes the nervous system more resilient.
So how do you use CBD?
Because CBD is extracted from hemp and is non-psychoactive, it is safe to use and can be sold in South Africa. There are various ways to use CBD, including Edible oil (available in different strengths), CBD chewing gum, CBD suppositories and capsules, all of which you can find at our store and online.
All of the CBD products we stock are carefully chosen, and are all organic, sustainably sourced, easily digested and produced under pharmaceutical control.
And best of all? Because CBD won’t get you high and doesn’t have any harmful side effects, you can take it any time.
