The Black Farmers’ Association of South Africa (BFASA) claims that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is favouring white citizens and foreign-owned companies while excluding black, indigenous, people when issuing licenses to grow cannabis.
SAHPRA denied the allegations, saying that it treats all applicants equally and does not practise prejudice. BFASA also claimed Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize was the person granting licenses to white owned companies, which the health regulator also denied.
SAHPRA REFUTES BFASA ALLEGATIONS
SAHPRA issued a statement that denied all allegations made by BFASA and explained that the current legislature does not allow it to issue cannabis licenses for non-medicinal commercial purposes, including for use in food.
Black farmers protest against Sahpra s medicinal cannabis licensing process news24.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news24.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Marizka Coetzer Raadia Khan, founding member of the African Cannabis Industry Association, said the march to Saphra was a call for all to claim their rights to dagga. Picture: iStock The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) yesterday refuted claims by the Black Farmers’ Association of SA and its president that Sahpra had a bias towards whites. “The allegation the Sahpra board chair, Prof Helen Rees, and CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, are issuing medicinal cannabis licences to affluent white people on the directive of Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize is far from the truth,” Semete-Makokotlela said. “Sahpra denies this flawed allegation.“The process to obtain a license from Sahpra to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes is a rigorous one.” ALSO READ: Dagga high hopes