Milestones in the Medical Cannabis Program
Zimbabwe legalized the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes in 2018, making it the second country in Africa to lay the groundwork for a medical marijuana industry. The law defined how companies could become licensed producers and ship medical cannabis to “authorized recipients.”
Key Laws and Regulations
- Statutory Instrument 62, which amended the Dangerous Drugs Act to include Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use Regulations
- Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for
Medical and Scientific Use) Regulations
Market Data
- The country is reportedly in the process of licensing 37 cannabis growers. The first company to receive a license was Precision Cannabis Therapeutics Zimbabwe.
- There are no legal MMJ patients.
Medical Cannabis Products Available in the Market
- There are currently no regulated products in the market.
Big Picture
- Since Zimbabwe legalized medical cannabis in 2018, the country has adopted detailed regulations that effectively establish parameters for businesses interested in capitalizing on this market.
- The country’s regulations failed to establish how patients could become authorized. The chief regulator is the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
- Licenses cover cultivation, research and imports/exports.
- The country’s regulations are similar to those in Canada. All advertising concerning marijuana is banned, for example. A cultivation license costs $50,000. Licenses are renewable every five years.
- Regulated products include dried marijuana, fresh cannabis, oil, plants and seeds.
- Regulations require the majority of company directors to have “proof of citizenship or proof of being ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe … or proof of an exemption by the minister.” Companies, meanwhile, must have “proof of incorporation in Zimbabwe.”
