Training the cannabis industry for the ‘Green Gold Rush’- Cheeba Cannabis Academy’s Trenton Birch
It is now legal to cultivate a small amount of marijuana for personal use since the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling. This has led to a proliferation of ‘grow clubs’ and an enthusiastic group of people eager not only to cultivate for own use but to put pressure on the government for the commercial use of cannabis. Supporters of commercialisation include Finance Minister Tito Mboweni who is eager to lay his hands on taxes from the industry. A new cannabis academy has been established in Johannesburg, called the Cheeba Cannabis Academy that wants to train skilled people who want work in the industry. The CEO and Founder of Cheeba, Trenton Birch, told BizNews that he is confident that it will grow into a multi-billion rand industry despite the current regulatory hurdles. – Linda van Tilburg