1
The Cannabis Debate Continues: A South African Perspective
Kelsey Nairn
BSocSciHons (Psychology)
South African College of Applied Psychology (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg Campus
Theory and Practice of Psychopathology
Assessment 1: Critical Review and Evaluation
Joy Nel
29th March 2022
Word Count: 3239
, 2
Table of Contents
The Cannabis Debate Continues: A South African Perspective..............................................................3
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated with the Use of Cannabis......................................3
Intoxication........................................................................................................................................3
Addiction...........................................................................................................................................4
Cannabis and Psychosis.....................................................................................................................5
Physical Health Dangers.....................................................................................................................6
Decriminalisation...................................................................................................................................6
The legalisation of Marijuana in South Africa (Ruling Evaluation).........................................................7
Intervention Strategies Governing Cannabis Usage.............................................................................11
References.......................................................................................................................................14
, 3
The Cannabis Debate Continues: A South African Perspective
The Khoikhoi term Dachab is the origin of the South African pseudonym for Cannabis
Sativa: Dagga (Henama, 2020).Nice way to start introduction! In pre-colonial times, Arab
traders brought cannabis to the Mozambique region, where it has been grown ever since. The
Khoikhoi used it as a valuable intoxicant and herbal medicine, chewed or boiled. They
also traded cannabis with the Xhosa peoples of eastern South Africa. After European
colonialists introduced the smoking pipe, people began to smoke it. Cannabis was not made
illegal in South Africa until the Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Act, No. 13, was passed in
1928. Possession of more than 113 grams of cannabis was automatically classified as dealing
when the Marijuana Control Act was revised in 1954. Marijuana use and sale were made
punishable by up to 15 years in jail by the Abuse of Dependence-Producing Substances and
Rehabilitation Centers Act, No. 41, which was passed in 1971. Up to 15 years imprisonment
for use and 25 years for trafficking were later introduced by the Drugs and Drug Trafficking
Act, No.140 of 1992 (Shelly & Howell, 2018). Marijuana and marijuana usage thus became
illegal in South Africa. Great research!!
Interpol ranked South Africa as one of the world’s leading cannabis producers. WOW!! Did
not know that…South AfricaSouth Africa accounted for about a quarter of all global
cannabis seizures in 2000 (Machethe &Machethe & Mofokeng, 2022; Taylor, 2020).
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated Withwith the Use of Cannabis
Intoxication
Cannabis’ potency has surged thanks to advances in plant breeding over the last few
decades. Until the 1970s, a typical joint had just 10mg of THC, compared to the 150mg
found in a joint now (Ashton, 2001). The strains of cannabis grown in South Africa were
already among the most powerful in the world by 1980 (Omokhua-Uyi et al., 2020). In that
The Cannabis Debate Continues: A South African Perspective
Kelsey Nairn
BSocSciHons (Psychology)
South African College of Applied Psychology (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg Campus
Theory and Practice of Psychopathology
Assessment 1: Critical Review and Evaluation
Joy Nel
29th March 2022
Word Count: 3239
, 2
Table of Contents
The Cannabis Debate Continues: A South African Perspective..............................................................3
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated with the Use of Cannabis......................................3
Intoxication........................................................................................................................................3
Addiction...........................................................................................................................................4
Cannabis and Psychosis.....................................................................................................................5
Physical Health Dangers.....................................................................................................................6
Decriminalisation...................................................................................................................................6
The legalisation of Marijuana in South Africa (Ruling Evaluation).........................................................7
Intervention Strategies Governing Cannabis Usage.............................................................................11
References.......................................................................................................................................14
, 3
The Cannabis Debate Continues: A South African Perspective
The Khoikhoi term Dachab is the origin of the South African pseudonym for Cannabis
Sativa: Dagga (Henama, 2020).Nice way to start introduction! In pre-colonial times, Arab
traders brought cannabis to the Mozambique region, where it has been grown ever since. The
Khoikhoi used it as a valuable intoxicant and herbal medicine, chewed or boiled. They
also traded cannabis with the Xhosa peoples of eastern South Africa. After European
colonialists introduced the smoking pipe, people began to smoke it. Cannabis was not made
illegal in South Africa until the Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Act, No. 13, was passed in
1928. Possession of more than 113 grams of cannabis was automatically classified as dealing
when the Marijuana Control Act was revised in 1954. Marijuana use and sale were made
punishable by up to 15 years in jail by the Abuse of Dependence-Producing Substances and
Rehabilitation Centers Act, No. 41, which was passed in 1971. Up to 15 years imprisonment
for use and 25 years for trafficking were later introduced by the Drugs and Drug Trafficking
Act, No.140 of 1992 (Shelly & Howell, 2018). Marijuana and marijuana usage thus became
illegal in South Africa. Great research!!
Interpol ranked South Africa as one of the world’s leading cannabis producers. WOW!! Did
not know that…South AfricaSouth Africa accounted for about a quarter of all global
cannabis seizures in 2000 (Machethe &Machethe & Mofokeng, 2022; Taylor, 2020).
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated Withwith the Use of Cannabis
Intoxication
Cannabis’ potency has surged thanks to advances in plant breeding over the last few
decades. Until the 1970s, a typical joint had just 10mg of THC, compared to the 150mg
found in a joint now (Ashton, 2001). The strains of cannabis grown in South Africa were
already among the most powerful in the world by 1980 (Omokhua-Uyi et al., 2020). In that
