Roadmap & Action Plan for Legal Recognition of Private Cannabis Clubs in South Africa

Objective

To secure the formal recognition of Private Cannabis Clubs (PCCs) under national cannabis legislation by unifying the sector, showcasing responsible self-regulation, and influencing public discourse and legislative processes.

Guiding Principles

Legitimacy: Operate openly, ethically, and in line with constitutional rights.
Transparency: Advocate with data, lived experience, and public health evidence.
Inclusivity: Represent all regions, sizes, and cultural traditions.
Urgency: Engage before the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill is finalised.

We are lobbying for:

Legal recognition of Private Cannabis Clubs (PCCs) in national legislation
A community-endorsed Code of Compliance that protects members and consumers
An inclusive Policy Position Paper to present to government in 2026

This process is driven by the community, not by corporations, parties, or individuals.

🗓️ Final Vote: March 2026
All SACCA-registered members will vote to adopt the final Code of Compliance and Policy Paper in March 2026. Until then, we are gathering suggestions, edits, and community engagement.

How the SACCA Drafting & Voting Process Works

SACCA operates on the principle of transparent, democratic participation. Our community collaboratively shapes the future of responsible cannabis self-regulation in South Africa through two key documents:

1. Code of Compliance

A living document outlining practical compliance guidelines for cannabis clubs, cultivators, and service providers. It ensures safe operations, consumer protection, and responsible self-governance.

2. Policy Paper

A dynamic position paper drafted by members to advocate for fair and inclusive cannabis laws. This document is designed to be presented to government stakeholders and policy makers.

Suggesting Edits

Two Working Groups exist within our online platform:
- Code of Compliance Group
- Policy Paper Group
Members can suggest edits by:
- Creating a new post in the relevant group
- Describing the proposed change and rationale
- Tagging it appropriately (e.g., #safety, #membership, #policy)
Suggested edits must be clear, constructive, and aligned with SACCA’s mission.

Voting Procedure

Members vote via forum comments (e.g., 👍/👎 or written support).
Open voting period lasts 14 days from the date of the proposal.
A proposed edit requires:
- A majority consensus within that timeframe
- Constructive feedback to be considered valid

Approval & Updates

Once approved, edits are:
- Manually implemented on the respective page
- Archived for public record and transparency in the group forum (with version history)
Version control ensures that:
- Past versions are never lost
- Anyone can track the evolution of each document

This community-driven model ensures:

Legitimacy when presenting policies to government
Accountability among clubs and service providers
A self-regulatory framework that reflects real-world expertise

Strategic Pillars & Action Plan

Phase 1: Community Consolidation & Drafting (Now – Dec 2025)

Launch SACCA & open national membership
Publish Draft Code of Compliance and Draft Policy Paper
Create discussion forums for community input
Allow any SACCA member to suggest edits to either document
Identify regional coordinators and interest groups

Phase 2: Open Review & Preparation for Vote (Jan – March 2026)

Compile all suggestions from members
Publicly display draft revisions and reasoning
Allow debate and final feedback in forum groups
Appoint a neutral editorial panel to compile the final drafts

🚨 Cutoff Date for Suggestions: 1 March 2026

Final drafts will be locked in preparation for the vote.

Phase 3: National Member Vote (March 2026)

All verified SACCA Members will receive a secure voting link to:

Approve or Decline the Final SACCA Code of Compliance
Approve or Decline the Final Policy Position Paper

Each document must reach a 2/3 majority to be adopted. Results will be published publicly.

Phase 4: Lobbying & Legal Recognition (April – Dec 2026)

With community-endorsed documents, SACCA will:

Submit our official Policy Paper and Compliance Framework to Parliament and national departments
Request inclusion in cannabis policy discussions and hearings
Present case studies of community clubs as working models
Engage media and civil society partners
Push for township and indigenous community inclusion in cannabis licensing and development

Without a clear, inclusive framework:

Clubs remain vulnerable to raids and legal uncertainty
Indigenous & township communities are excluded by design
Big business may dominate without grassroots voices

This strategy ensures the Cannabis Club model is protected, refined, and recognized as legitimate — not criminal.

How You Can Get Involved

Register your club or cannabis business on the SACCA website
Review and suggest edits to the Code of Compliance or Policy Paper
Join our forums and webinars
Be ready to vote in March 2026

"The law is changing — if we don’t help shape it, we will be shaped by it."