Project Indlela – Reflections on Our First Open National Dialogue
Greetings everyone,
I would like to extend sincere thanks to all who joined and contributed to our first Project Indlela Webinar: “A Pathway to Cannabis Policy Reform in South Africa”, held on 11 November 2025.
This was the first open discussion under the Project Indlela banner — and marks the beginning of a series of ongoing dialogues that will bring together government representatives, traditional leaders, indigenous growers, civil society, and the wider cannabis community.
The goal is to create an open, transparent platform for collaboration as we move toward a coherent and inclusive cannabis framework for South Africa.
A central theme that emerged during the discussion was the protection and inclusion of traditional leaders, indigenous communities, and legacy cultivators in the evolving cannabis economy. These groups are the foundation of South Africa’s cannabis heritage and must not be displaced or marginalised as new regulations take effect.
Project Indlela is committed to ensuring that mechanisms such as Cannabis Social Clubs and Regional Processing Hubs serve as vehicles for empowerment and lawful participation, rather than barriers to entry. The intention is to open pathways into the formal economy that respect traditional practices, create local opportunity, and strengthen community ownership.
We acknowledge that valid concerns were raised about the proposed models, particularly regarding equitable access and implementation. These issues will form part of the next series of discussions, which will focus on refining approaches in close consultation with affected communities.
The schedule for upcoming sessions and consultations will be published here shortly, and we encourage everyone to stay engaged and participate actively in shaping “the way forward.”
Attached below are the meeting notes and transcript from the first webinar. We invite all members to review them, share your views, and continue building this process together.
Warm regards,
Albertus van Jaarsveldt
On behalf of SACCA