For more information about South African cannabis policies please have a look at the proposals put forward by The Dagga Party of South Africa, Fields of Green For All, SAHPRA and the CDCSA.

Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years for medicinal, spiritual, and recreational purposes. Today, scientific research is helping us better understand how cannabis and its active compounds, cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system.

While cannabis is not a miracle cure and more research is still needed, studies have identified several potential therapeutic benefits that have led many countries to legalize or regulate medical cannabis programs.

Here are 15 evidence-based benefits of cannabis.

1. Cannabis May Help Manage Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is one of the most commonly reported reasons people use medical cannabis. Research suggests that cannabinoids may help reduce certain types of pain, particularly neuropathic pain associated with nerve damage.

Learn more:

• National Academies of Sciences Report
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

2. Relief from Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

One of the strongest medical uses for cannabis is helping cancer patients manage nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Several cannabinoid-based medications have been approved internationally for this purpose.

Learn more:

• National Cancer Institute

3. Improved Appetite in Certain Medical Conditions

Cannabis has long been known to stimulate appetite. This may benefit patients experiencing appetite loss due to serious illnesses such as HIV/AIDS or cancer treatment.

Learn more:

• National Academies Report

4. Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Management

Research has shown that cannabinoids may help reduce muscle spasticity, stiffness, and discomfort experienced by some people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Learn more:

• Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
• National Academies Report

5. Support for Certain Epilepsy Disorders

CBD-based medicines have demonstrated effectiveness in treating some rare and severe forms of epilepsy. This represents one of the most significant recent breakthroughs in cannabinoid medicine.

Learn more:

• Epilepsy Foundation
• World Health Organization

6. Better Sleep for Some Patients

Many cannabis consumers report improved sleep quality. Research suggests cannabinoids may help certain individuals who experience sleep disturbances related to chronic pain, MS, and other medical conditions.

Learn more:

• Sleep Foundation
• National Academies Report

7. Potential Reduction in Opioid Use

Some studies suggest cannabis may help certain patients reduce their reliance on opioid medications for pain management. Researchers continue to investigate the role cannabis may play in addressing chronic pain while reducing opioid-related harms.

Learn more:

• American Journal of Public Health
• National Institutes of Health

8. Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Cannabinoids interact with receptors involved in regulating inflammation throughout the body. Researchers are studying their potential role in inflammatory conditions and autoimmune disorders.

Learn more:

• NIH Research Database

9. Harm Reduction Compared to Criminalization

Cannabis reform is not only about health. Legal access can reduce arrests, criminal records, and the social harms associated with prohibition.

Countries that have adopted regulated cannabis frameworks have demonstrated that cannabis can be managed more effectively through public health approaches than criminal enforcement.

10. Economic Benefits and Job Creation

Legal cannabis industries around the world have created thousands of jobs, generated tax revenue, and opened opportunities for entrepreneurs, farmers, and researchers.

South Africa has significant potential to become a leader in cannabis cultivation, hemp production, and cannabinoid innovation.

11. Hemp Supports Sustainable Agriculture

Industrial hemp is a versatile crop used to produce textiles, food, building materials, paper, and bioplastics. Hemp requires fewer agricultural inputs than many traditional crops and offers exciting opportunities for sustainable development.

12. Cannabis May Help Some Patients with Anxiety

Some individuals report benefits from low doses of CBD for anxiety-related symptoms. However, research remains ongoing, and high-THC products may worsen anxiety in certain people.

Consumers should always approach cannabis responsibly and consult healthcare professionals where appropriate.

13. Enhanced Quality of Life for Medical Patients

For many patients, cannabis is not about curing disease but improving quality of life by reducing symptoms such as pain, nausea, muscle spasms, and sleep disturbances.

This patient-centered approach remains one of the strongest arguments for medical cannabis access.

14. A Safer Alternative Than Many Legal Substances

While cannabis is not risk-free, evidence consistently shows that it presents lower overdose risks than opioids and many other controlled substances.

Responsible adult use should be guided by education, regulation, and public health principles.

15. Cannabis Supports Personal Freedom and Human Rights

At its core, cannabis reform is about personal autonomy. Adults should have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies, particularly when those decisions occur in private and do not harm others.

South Africa’s Constitutional Court recognized this principle in its landmark 2018 judgment protecting the private use and cultivation of cannabis by adults.

The Bottom Line

Cannabis offers genuine benefits for many people, particularly in the areas of chronic pain, chemotherapy-related nausea, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis symptoms. However, cannabis is not a cure-all, and responsible use requires education, regulation, and continued scientific research.

As South Africa continues developing its cannabis laws, policymakers should focus on evidence, public health, human rights, and consumer protection rather than outdated prohibitionist policies.

NORML South Africa supports evidence-based cannabis reform and advocates for a fair, responsible, and inclusive cannabis future for all South Africans.

“Our researchers are currently investigating and developing an integrative phytochemical treatment in targeting the control of COVID-19 induced pro-inflammatory responses. We are focused on inhibiting Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα) and the Interleukin 6 (IL6) pathways, whilst investigating the immuno modulation and antiviral properties of the cannabis Sativa derived phyto-constituents. ” Investigation of selected cannabinoids and cannabimimetic compounds against COVID-19 and PIMS

 

Cannabis History

Humans have cultivated and consumed the flowering tops of the female cannabis plant, colloquially known as marijuana, since virtually the beginning of recorded history. Cannabis-based textiles dating to 7,000 B.C.E have been recovered in northern China, and the plant’s use as a medicinal and mood altering agent date back nearly as far. In 2008, archeologists in Central Asia discovered over two pounds of cannabis in the 2,700-year-old grave of an ancient shaman. After scientists conducted extensive testing on the material’s potency, they affirmed, “[T]he most probable conclusion … is that [ancient] culture[s] cultivated cannabis for pharmaceutical, psychoactive, and divinatory purposes.”

Below is a short documentary done by the Dagga  Couple and Fields of Green for All about the historical of dagga or cannabis.

WORLD CANNABIS HISTORY

Modern cultures continue to indulge in the consumption of cannabis for these same purposes, despite a decades-long, virtual worldwide ban on the plant’s cultivation and use. In the United States, federal prohibitions outlawing cannabis’ recreational, industrial, and therapeutic use were first imposed by Congress under the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and then later reaffirmed by federal lawmakers’ decision to classify the cannabis plant — as well as all of its organic chemical compounds (known as cannabinoids) — as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This classification, which categorizes the plant alongside heroin, defines cannabis and its dozens of distinct cannabinoids as possessing ‘a high potential for abuse, … no currently accepted medical use, … [and] a lack of accepted safety for the use of the drug … under medical supervision.’ By contrast, cocaine and methamphetamine — which remain illicit for recreational use but may be consumed under a doctor’s supervision — are classified as Schedule II drugs. Both alcohol and tobacco are unscheduled.

Cannabidiol ( CBD )