Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37778

Browse

Filters

2022 - 20232

Settings

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Cannabis

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Bam-Msimang, N.Y, The impact of government intervention on promoting small-scale commercial cannabis farmers in South Africa The impact of government intervention on promoting small-scale commercial cannabis farmers in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Bam-Msimang, Nomamiyandile; Moloi, Tsele
    This study explored the impact of government interventions aimed at promoting small- scale commercial cannabis farmers in South Africa. A semi-structured interview tool made up of thirteen open-ended questions was used to collect qualitative data from a study group of ten participants. The study group consisted of purposively sampled two policymakers and eight small-scale cannabis farmers. Participants’ responses were first recorded after obtaining their consent and afterwards transcribed. The qualitative data was inductively and thematically analysed to generate several main themes and sub-themes. These themes and sub-themes provided a deeper understanding and insights that highlighted the impact of government intervention on promoting small- scale commercial cannabis farmers in South Africa. The study findings revealed that despite the current government policies such as the Cannabis Master Plan and Phakisa Initiative aimed at deregulating commercial cannabis small-scale farmers still face considerable exclusion from this economic activity. To begin with, most small-scale farmers still face entry barriers that linked to legal, licence compliance and market competitiveness challenges. In addition, commercial cannabis farming has thus far failed to act as a driver for job creation and poverty alleviation in rural areas. This study found that the main cause of challenges faced by small-scale commercial farmers in this country has much to do the way government interventions are ineffectively implemented by various stakeholders. At most these interventions are marked by low levels of coordination, collaboration, and political will among officials tasked with implementing policies like the Cannabis Master Plan. Finally, the study made recommendations that can lead to increased effectiveness of government interventions and thus promote small-scale commercial cannabis farming in this country. Examples of these recommendations being conducting more awareness campaigns to sensitise law enforcers and rural cannabis small-scale farmers about commercial cannabis legislative frameworks, efforts to include rural farmers into formal cannabis supply chain and increase market competitiveness and accessibility thereof.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Implication of Regulated Cannabis Legalisation on Wellbeing and Economic Growth
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Quarshie, Emmanuel; Alagidede, Imhotep Paul
    This is a thesis on the cost benefit analysis of cannabis legalisation, public (mis)perception about cannabis usage and cannabis users, the medical application of cannabinoids and their commercial and industrial potential in the new global political economy. The study shows that, although there are misconceptions about cannabis, there is still much to unpack about its effects on human well-being. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative cross-country dataset from Ghana and South Africa, the study employed a logit model to address the following questions: (a) What does society know about cannabis and its industrial and medical applications? (b) What is the evidence-based scientific claims of cannabis regarding human well-being? (c) What are the existing gaps between perception and knowledge? Among the contributions, this study clarifies the often-misunderstood position of cannabis in society and illuminates the blind side of the role of cannabis as an economic enabler in the post pandemic world. More importantly, while some schools of thought project cannabis as a gateway drug to the infernal realm, this study provides evidenced based on real-time practical experience from well- informed and educated users. The study provides a model for regulated cannabis legalisation, a proper guide on value-added supply chain mechanism, and guiding principles to ensure the model functions properly, based on lessons and best practices from countries that have legalized cannabis, such as the Netherlands, Canada, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. This study further establishes empirical and theoretical foundations for the key thematic subjects of cannabis use, as well as a policy direction pertaining to its regulated legalisation, prohibition, or decriminalization in Ghana and South Africa. Given the disconnect between knowledge and perception about cannabis, the study recommended knowledge enhancement and adequate advocacy on the pros and cons of cannabis for society to enhance understanding of the benefits and its side effects to provide evidence-based guidance on the medical application and industrial potentials