Research:2024-09-26/Journal article/finally-freed-cannabis-in-south-africa-a-review-contextualised-within-global-history-diversity-and-chemical

Research record26 September 2024Journal article

Finally Freed—Cannabis in South Africa: A Review Contextualised within Global History, Diversity, and Chemical Profiles

Valencia V. Ndlangamandla, Adeola Salawu-Rotimi, Vuyiswa S. Bushula-Njah, Nompilo L. Hlongwane, Gugu F. Sibandze, Fikisiwe C. Gebashe, Nokuthula P. Mchunu

Plants · 2024

Abstract

Cannabis sativa L. is a monotypic genus belonging to the family Cannabaceae. It is one of the oldest species cultivated by humans, believed to have originated in Central Asia. In pivotal judgements in 2016 and 2018, the South African Constitutional Court legalised the use of Cannabis within the country for medicinal and recreational purposes, respectively. These decrees opened opportunities for in-depth research where previously there had been varying sentiments for research to be conducted on the plant. This review seeks to examine the history, genetic diversity, and chemical profile of Cannabis. The cultivation of Cannabis by indigenous people of southern Africa dates back to the eighteenth century. Indigenous rural communities have been supporting their livelihoods through Cannabis farming even before its legalisation. However, there are limited studies on the plant’s diversity, both morphologically and genetically, and its chemical composition. Also, there is a lack of proper documentation of Cannabis varieties in southern Africa. Currently, the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has 15 genome assemblies of Cannabis obtained from hemp and drug cultivars; however, none of these are representatives of African samples. More studies are needed to explore the species’ knowledge gaps on genetic diversity and chemical profiles to develop the Cannabis sector in southern Africa.

The paper's abstract, reproduced as published.

DOI

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Record created 3 July 2026 · maintained by landrace.wiki editors · page history

Published26 Sep 2024

TypeJournal article

VenuePlants

Year2024

DOI10.3390/plants13192695

CountrySouth Africa

DOI

2024-09-26 2026-07-03 Finally Freed—Cannabis in South Africa: A Review Contextualised within Global History, Diversity, and Chemical Profiles Journal article Conservation Valencia V. Ndlangamandla, Adeola Salawu-Rotimi, Vuyiswa S. Bushula-Njah, Nompilo L. Hlongwane, Gugu F. Sibandze, Fikisiwe C. Gebashe, Nokuthula P. Mchunu Plants 2024 10.3390/plants13192695 https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192695 A review contextualising cannabis in South Africa within global history, diversity and chemical profiles. States that no study has characterised southern-African cannabis landraces and that the NCBI genome assemblies include none of African origin, documenting the characterisation gap. Cannabis sativa L. is a monotypic genus belonging to the family Cannabaceae. It is one of the oldest species cultivated by humans, believed to have originated in Central Asia. In pivotal judgements in 2016 and 2018, the South African Constitutional Court legalised the use of Cannabis within the country for medicinal and recreational purposes, respectively. These decrees opened opportunities for in-depth research where previously there had been varying sentiments for research to be conducted on the plant. This review seeks to examine the history, genetic diversity, and chemical profile of Cannabis. The cultivation of Cannabis by indigenous people of southern Africa dates back to the eighteenth century. Indigenous rural communities have been supporting their livelihoods through Cannabis farming even before its legalisation. However, there are limited studies on the plant’s diversity, both morphologically and genetically, and its chemical composition. Also, there is a lack of proper documentation of Cannabis varieties in southern Africa. Currently, the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has 15 genome assemblies of Cannabis obtained from hemp and drug cultivars; however, none of these are representatives of African samples. More studies are needed to explore the species’ knowledge gaps on genetic diversity and chemical profiles to develop the Cannabis sector in southern Africa. South Africa