MBABANE – With the race on for the application for licences or permits for the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes and scientific use, 10 companies and individuals have shown interest.
The companies and associations are both local and international, with some coming from as far as Israel and the United States of America.

The companies made their presentations before the select committee, which was tasked with considering the amendment of the Opium and Habit Forming Drugs (Amendment) Bill No.6 of 2020, which was chaired by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo.

Some of the companies were against the legalisation of cannabis, but supported the licensing for medicinal cannabis, while others requested that cannabis be used for recreational purposes in the country.
The MPs are divided on the Bill, in the sense that some feel it will take the business away from emaSwati because of the high costs involved in production,  while others are of the view that the companies be allowed to operate in order to revive the economy.

Proposed

The select committee has proposed that companies, which are granted licences, should have a minimum of at least 33 per cent representation or shareholding being emaSwati.
The Bill is piloted by the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, who reported that her ministry, over the last couple of months, had experienced a surge in the amount of…

Source: https://mmpconnect.com/10-companies-apply-for-cannabis-production/