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WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT CANNABIS?
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It’s a fair question. In fact, it’s the question. Because if cannabis isn’t “special,” then why all the fuss? Why the laws, the delays, the contradictions, the counting of plants like we’re dealing with contraband tomatoes? We all know that cannabis is one of the most versatile plants on the planet. It can be grown in a backyard or across hectares. It feeds industries—textiles, construction, food, medicine—and yet it also feeds something less tangible: a shift in how we feel, think, and connect. That’s the part that makes people nervous. You can build a hemp house and everyone claps. You light up a joint and suddenly we need a task team. The truth is, cannabis is special because it sits at the intersection of body, mind and environment. It’s not just about getting high, although let’s be honest—that’s a big part of the appeal for many of us. It’s about relaxation, creativity, introspection, relief, connection. It’s about choosing, for a moment, to feel different. And that brings us to the real issue: control. Because what is being regulated here is not just a plant—it’s consciousness. The right to alter your own state of mind. The right to decide what goes into your body and how you experience the world. That’s why cannabis doesn’t fit neatly into policy boxes. It’s not just agriculture. It’s not just health. It’s
not just tradition or adult use. It’s all of it, all at once. And that makes lawmakers deeply uncomfortable. The plant is only half the story. The other half—the more interesting half—is the culture. Cannabis culture in South Africa is layered, resilient and, frankly, unstoppable. From rural fields in Mpondoland to urban private clubs, from “under the Dagga tree” to slick shop counters, this culture has survived decades of prohibition and still shows up with good vibes and good coffee. It’s a culture built on sharing. Passing a zol (Remember the bittersweet lockdown memes?). Swapping seeds. Exchanging knowledge. Looking out for each other in a system that has rarely looked out for us. It’s also a culture that has been criminalised, marginalised and, more recently, quietly (or not so quietly) co-opted. While the doors of opportunity creak open, many of the people who carried this plant through the darkest times are being left outside. That’s not just unfortunate—it’s unjust. If cannabis is special, then so are the people who have lived with it, grown it, protected it and been punished for it. And this is where we need to get serious. Because we cannot talk about what makes cannabis special without talking about
Human Rights. About dignity, privacy, and the freedom to make choices about our own bodies. We cannot ignore Harm Reduction— meeting people where they are, not where policy thinks they should be. And we certainly cannot continue with drug policy reform that exists on paper but fails in practice. If we get this wrong, we don’t just mismanage a plant—we miss an opportunity to do something truly transformative. So, what is so special about cannabis? Maybe it’s not the plant at all. Maybe it’s what it reveals. About us. About our fears. About our need to control what we don’t fully understand. And about our capacity—if we choose it—to do things differently. Because at the end of the day, cannabis is not going anywhere. The real question is: are we ready to meet it where it stands? By Myrtle Clark Picture credit Fields of Green for ALL / Jo Lekkading