Police on Wednesday claimed their four-month Operation Fiyela had smashed a hole in organised crime in the province.

Since operations began on March 1 police had made more than 60 000 arrests, recovered more than 1 000 firearms and seized almost seven tons of marijuana.

After widespread criticism in the national media, provincial government along with the police on Wednesday announced the successes of the operation.

In a media briefing held in Pietermaritzburg, KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni sat to discuss urgent security and policing matters in the province.

Legally regulated cannabis is a concept that is supported by many South Africans, young and old alike. The cannabis movement is one of the largest social movements on the planet and has widespread support through all classes of society, especially in South Africa.

Cannabis activism is a daunting task, especially in South Africa with its conservative background and scars from Apartheid. Our democracy has yet to mature to the point where it is able adequately protect the rights of its people. Until then activists face an uphill battle as the vanguards of a mostly impassive and unassertive movement.  

Marijuana is commonly referred to as bhang, bangi, pot, ganja, vela or weed among other names depending on the unique strain. In the scientific domain it is known as Cannabis Sativa containing the compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that causes the “high” effect.

Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 1994, classifies the possession, sale, growing and distribution of marijuana illegal. This law is almost theoretical since it is rarely adhered to by patrons and by extension law enforcement officers who meet to the ready market of supply and demand.

MPs and medical researchers have rejected a bill that proposed the legalisation of dagga for commercial and medicinal use, with some warning of the "hazards" of the drug for families and communities.

MPs, legal experts and clinical specialists from the Medical Research Council yesterday discussed the Medical Innovation Bill, first introduced as a private member's bill by IFP MP Mario Ambrosini. He took his own life after suffering from stage-four lung cancer for more than a year.

ANC MP Nonhlanhla Ndaba was dismissive of the proposed legislation yesterday.

"I believe that dagga cannot cure cancer. The experience I have of people smoking dagga makes me believe there isn't any stage at which I will agree that we can legislate such a bill.

Disruptive businesses make the headlines, but they also face real risks. Why you need to tread carefully around the law

Years ago, I worked as a waitress at a popular independent brew pub with an origin story that was the stuff of local legend. The proprietor had bought a heritage building, outfitted it with expensive brewing equipment and hired a full-time brewmaster to develop premium ales and lagers. He had just one problem: It wasn’t yet legal for an establishment in Ontario to produce and sell its own beer on-site. He started the business anyway, shilling sandwiches and sodas until the law changed and allowed the pub to sell the suds that have made it a prosperous business for nearly 30 years.

By Njabulo Majola.

The world’s scientific community seems to be re-evaluating its relationship with the plant Cannabis, popularly referred to as dagga in South Africa. Studies that range from the medicinal benefits of cannabis to the societal effect of the legalisation of cannabis have been published by internationally respected journals such as PLOS ONE and Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. The general consensus points towards a relaxation of Cannabis related legislation and a need for increased funding for further study of the field.

JOHANNESBURG: To legalize or not to legalize marijuana is a question for South Africans.

Amid a heated debate on the issue, Head of the Cannabis Working Group, Andre du Plessis made headlines last week when lighting up dagga joint live on air while discussing the legalization of cannabis on a TV program run by the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

Du Plesssis demands that South Africa government consider the legalization of cannabis for recreational and medical purposes.

He told Xinhua that the decriminalization of smoking the herb would be positive as it would also reduce the number of people who were imprisoned for smoking the “blessed herb”.

When times get tough, it seems the rich in South Africa get richer - in spite of living in a country with vast wealth discrepancies.

Johannesburg - The man interviewed on television alongside a dagga activist who apparently smoked marijuana live on air, has condemned his fellow guest's behaviour.

"He could not discipline himself at that stage and we cannot believe that they [those calling for the legalisation of dagga] can show discipline in future," David Bayever, deputy chairperson of the Central Drug Authority told News24 on Tuesday.

The interview happened at the SABC on Monday. Bayever was in one studio with the anchor, while the head of the Cannabis Working Group, Andre du Plessis, was in another studio and joined the interview on The Newsroom via satellite.