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KZN’s health portfolio committee is trying to stop scenes like
this,
where Captain Louis Solomons confiscates dagga plants in Woodstock.
PHOTO: News24.
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CHAIR of the KwaZulu-Natal health portfolio
committee Yusuf Bhamjee yesterday tabled a motion that may yet see the province
becoming the first province to legalise medicinal cannabis in South
Africa.
Speaking in the legislature yesterday, Bhamjee
noted that a number of cancer patients experiencing pain from chemotherapy or
from cancer itself are already using cannabis oil for pain and nausea
relief.
relief.
He told the members cannabis oil is also used to
address sleep apnea, stress, anxiety, skin irritations, heart and other
ailments.
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| Yusuf Bhamjee |
• Lobby the National Minister to introduce legislation to
address the medical uses of cannabis oil as per the High Court ruling;
•
Research and publicise the benefits of cannabis oil for cancer patients;
and
• Pursue introducing legislation in KZN on the benefits of
cannabis oil, eliminating negative stereotyping.”
Healers React: 'stay on the pedal'
If KwaZulu-Natal does legalise the use of
medicinal cannabis, it will be the first of South Africa’s nine provinces to do
so, to the joy of Dr Eliot Ndlovu, well-known inyanga (medicinal healer) and
sangoma (spiritual healer) at the kwa-Malulekoes herb farm near Mooi River. He
said Bhamjee’s call was long-awaited and most welcome.
He pointed out the traditional medicines market
turns over billions of rands a year in South Africa, a major percentage of which
is spent on cannabis.
Ndlovu said while racist laws still made
possession of any part of the plant totally illegal, it was very difficult for
all traditional healers to do their work.
Cannabis growers in Pietermaritzburg, Hlukeka
in the Eastern Cape and Bulwer in the Midlands, who spoke to The Witness on
conditions of anonymity, said the number of people they supplied with medicinal
cannabis products was growing daily as people experienced for themselves and
told each other of the healing properties of the plant.
Inyanga Lucky Mhlongu from Esigodini sung
Bhamjee’s praises, saying the province was privileged to have a leader “who
thinks away from the medicines control board,” adding “Mr Bhamjee, stay on the
pedal, we are behind you.”
He was referring to SA’s medicines registrar Dr
Joey Gouws, who in January told parliament the medicines control council will
allow cannabis only under specific, prescribed conditions for the treatment of
select medical conditions, and for education, research and analysis.
Mhlongu said legalising marijuana will uplift
KZN’s economy, empower rural communities and improve people’s health.
The department of health could not be reached
for comment before publication.
How cannabis heals
THE cannabis plant contain a group of over 85
compounds called cannabinoids.
Nerve endings in the human nervous and
digestive systems contain receptors that only accept cannabinoids, some of which
the body makes, to regulate sleep, appetite, movement and emotion.
Cannabinoids are proven to block pain and
reduce the inflammation that leads to pain.
Cannabinoid, and the turpines that give the
plants their distintive smells are also believed to regulate the immune system
to support the body’s efforts to heal itself from several diseases.
#daggacouple #cannabis #KZN @geZond.co.za
