Customs & Excise report 10-fold increase with most from South Africa and Spain. 

The number of cannabis seizures being made in the Republic’s postal service has reach record levels.

Customs & Excise officers have seen a near 10-fold increase in seizures in the last five years and, despite that level of growth, seizure numbers almost doubled last year.

The vast majority of seizures involve herbal cannabis being imported into the State via the postal service from Spain and South Africa.

Security sources believe while some of the finds belonged to gangs experimenting with smuggling routes to test how effective searching in the postal system is, most of the finds result from orders for the drug placed online.

The products accompany the release of a new single from the rap duo, 'We Have Candy' .

Though South African rap duo Die Antwoord are currently prepping the release of new album Mount Ninji and Da Nice Time Kid, they appear to have found time to branch out with a little entrepreneurialism. 

The pair partnered with Northern California's largest supplier of medicinal cannabis products, Natural Cannabis, to bring out their own line of weed products called Zef Zol (via Channel 24); ranging from vapes, vape refills, lip balms, chocolates, and mouth spray. 

The use of marijuana is a contentious issue globally, with many politicians calling for the legalization of the drug.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who said alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana, is the latest to join the cause.

Former IFP MP Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, who died of cancer, tabled a bill in 2014 that would decriminalise the use of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes.

The use of marijuana among IT professionals is also nothing new.

In 2014, FBI director James Comey said the agency may have to relook its “no-tolerance” stance on marijuana use to attract the best computer programmers and hackers to fight cyber criminals.

The cracks in the policies that prohibit the use, cultivation and trade in cannabis in South Africa are beginning to show.

Fields of Green for ALL representatives attended the recent UN Special Session on Drugs in New York as civil society delegates. Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, and Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, were there in their official capacity.

But South Africa’s comments on the outcome document were as bland as the majority of other countries, and a report that described the whole special session as a “damp squib” was quite accurate.

However, it was inspiring and enlightening to be part of a gathering of so many movers and shakers in the drug policy world, rarely in one place at one time.

The Central Drug Authority has taken a definitive position on the use of dagga, and has called for it to be decriminalised.

CDA Head researcher Professor Dan Stein says their opinion is based on evidence studied over time in different countries.

Stein explains that the CDA's stance falls between commercialisation and staunch criminalisation.

We're saying let's move away from a 'war on drugs' thinking, but let's not go completely towards commercialisation until we have a better idea using data.

— Professor Dan Stein, Head of CDA Research Committee

Meanwhile, pro-dagga activist Myrtle Clarke has welcomed the announcement, and what she calls a rational statement and "bold step".

‘Legalise it,’ the EFF leader said, before laying into ‘ANC complainers’ who want to join his party.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Monday said he fully supported calls for the legalisation of dagga. Malema said he felt alcohol was more dangerous than marijuana.

“I’ve seen a lot of people smoke dagga and not have a problem, but I’ve never seen anyone drink alcohol and read books. I’ve seen people drink alcohol, get into their cars and cause accidents, but I’ve never heard of an accident caused by a dagga smoker.

“There is no solid reason why it cannot be legalised, if there is anything that needs to be made illegal is alcohol, it is the most dangerous thing.”

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA--(Marketwired - May 23, 2016) - Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTC PINK: CBIS), a U.S. company specializing in the development of cannabis-based medicines, announces arrival of a Cannabis Science delegation beginning in Cape Town, South Africa to launch a historic Africa Healthcare initiative led by President & CEO, Co-Founder Raymond C. Dabney.

Mr. Dabney is accompanied by Dr. Allen A. Herman, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of CBIS, Mr. Melvin P. Foote, President and Executive Director of Constituency for Africa (CFA), and Dr. Julius Garvey, surgeon and noted advocate for African healthcare and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of CBIS.

According to local reports, around 3,000 protesters in Cape Town, South Africa recently took to the streets to oppose the country’s continued prohibition on cannabis. Activists donning red, green and gold gathered together in support for cannabis. The 10th Annual Cannabis Walk is recognized as one of a series of marches around the globe, called the Global Cannabis Campaign.

Thousands of South Africans took to the streets of Cape Town on Saturday, in a procession demanding a relaxation of drugs laws to allow medicinal and recreational use of cannabis.

With some smoking the substance, locally known as Dagga, around 3,000 protesters took part in the march in a backdrop of reggae music, while waving red, green and gold flags.

“We were marching for the legalisation and regulation of cannabis in South Africa,” lead organiser Johannes Berkhout told AFP.

“There is more than enough evidence around the world about the medicinal benefits of cannabis,” he said, adding that legalisation would create a “safer and much more controllable” use of the drug.