Zimbabwean government has authorised the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) to issue 3 specialised trade permits which will legalize cannabis trade-related activities in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe legalised the production of cannabis (mbanje or dagga) for medicinal/scientific goals.
Last year, it declared that 37 local and private investors had indicated interest in cannabis farming.
This year, through a cabinet ruling and high-level conference, a policy modification allowing investors to hold 100% ownership of Medicinal Cannabis licences was made in order to enhance the competitiveness of the sector both regionally and globally.
Under Statutory Instrument 218 of 2020 released Friday, Agriculture Minister, Anxious Masuka declared that AMA could proceed to issue special licences.
The SI said “the Authority may issue the additional types of permit: a general cultivator’s permit; a research and breeding permit and an industrial hemp (cannabis) merchant’s permit”.
The general cultivator’s permit authorises the permit holder to attempt, in agreement with the permit and these regulations, the cultivation of industrial hemp; processing hemp for marketing purposes; selling of hemp produce.
A permit holder is authorised to undertake the activities specified in a general permit only in respect of authorized cultivars.
A study and breeding permit authorises the permit holder to undertake the procurement by a person within Zimbabwe of hemp of specified cultivars and varieties that are not approved cultivars.
The cultivation, for research purposes only, of new cultivars and varieties of hemp that are not approved cultivars among other privileges.
An industrial hemp merchant’s permit shall allow the holder to supply industrial cannabis within Zimbabwe and among other privileges.
Cannabis farming and correlated trade is enabled in Zimbabwe only for medicinal and industrial purposes.
Smoking the herb remains criminal and most legalized business activities around Cannabis are not allowed to promote among other strict measures.
