South Africa has missed the R30 billion bus

• South Africa has missed the R30 billion cannabis industry opportunity due to a downturn in global cannabis sentiment and a lack of legislative clarity.
• The country's Cannabis Masterplan, endorsed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to create a R30 billion industry, but progress has been slow due to policy reform and regulatory uncertainty.
• The delay has left many entrepreneurs in a grey area, and the Health Department's ban on cannabis-containing foods was later withdrawn after impacting 1,800 legitimate businesses.