Page 142 - Daggabay Magazine Issue 9

Fields of Green for ALL • Collectively Reforming South African Cannabis Laws

6. Way Forward

6.1 Support Industries

We become wary when analysts predict the businesses, support the various functions needed
massive potential of Cannabis, quoting billions in for a “touching the plant” business to operate and
sales once this plant is legalised for commercial are subject to less stringent regulations . Examples
1
purposes. We need to stop overselling the potential of supporting businesses are: agricultural input
of Cannabis as the saviour, as an entire economy suppliers, accounting services, HR and payroll
cannot be based on a single industry. We do services, tech support and software, and hundreds
believe Cannabis cultivation, distribution and more.
trade will help the economy. However, there is
also untapped potential in the industries that There are more supporting businesses than any
support our Cannabis industry. other business in the Cannabis industry and this
is where the real economic potential is hidden,
Businesses that cultivate, distribute and/or sell especially for South Africa . We have created a list
2
Cannabis are directly involved in handling the of supporting-industry jobs in Section 1: Cannabis
plant, also known as “Touching the plant” type 101 that is by no means exhaustive but shows
businesses and they are/will be subject to more the potential when looking beyond Cannabis
stringent regulations. Supporting businesses, cultivation and trade.
on the other hand, also known as “ancillary”

98 CANNABIS IN SOUTH AFRICA • THE PEOPLE’S PLANT • A Full-Spectrum Manifesto For Policy Reform