The cannabis plant has so much potential in the local food industry.

The days of cannabis being spoken about in hushed voices or giggled about in the office canteen are long gone. Thanks to new legislation allowing the growing and smoking of cannabis within your own home, South Africans are waking up to the multiple uses and the associated health benefits that it provides.

We are also experiencing the dawn of cannabis-infused food and beverage products, which are becoming hugely popular for medical and recreational purposes.

Promoting Responsible Use

The Bobby Greenhash Foundation is a philanthropic organisation which is dedicated to providing help to everybody who requires information, advice and support in the use of medical marijuana, cannabis extracts, traditional medicines and natural healing. All of the cannabis-based products are made from the purest Swazi Gold strains, grown 100% organically in greenhouses located in the neighbouring Kingdom of Swaziland.

Along with a range of cannabis- infused beauty products and natural medicines, the site also sells edibles for those who like their sweet treats infused with some green-fingered goodness. This writer purchased a pack of 10 ‘Canna-Cookies’, for research purposes of course, and found that a mere 1⁄4 of a cookie before bedtime induced a long and uninterrupted sleep.

Normally plagued by insomnia, eight hours of glorious slumber without the aid of a sleeping tablet nor copious amounts of alcohol, is a very attractive alternative indeed. And to make the option even sweeter, the cookies taste absolutely heavenly.

Beer Without the Blues

According to Graeme Bird, Founder of Poison City Brewing, cannabis is set to be a major disruptor in the beverage industry. As people from across the world gravitate towards a healthier way of living (driven by education about the harmful effects arising from a lot of the food and drinks we have been consuming) they are cutting back on alcohol and sugar, two major components in alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages respectively.

“As such, consumers are looking for healthy options for both and cannabis is the perfect substitute because it is a medicinal plant with massive health benefits. This was emphasised in a recent publication by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with far-reaching findings that will undoubtedly drive the tidal wave of legalisation that has already started in countries like Canada and the US,”

explains Graeme.

The hemp and CBD (cannabidiol) components of cannabis are both completely free of any psychoactive elements and are perfectly safe for consumption by adults and children. This makes cannabis beverages with these components the ideal alternative to the vast majority of non- alcoholic beverages available on the markets globally. They can also be used effectively in alcoholic beverages to add health benefits and enhance flavour and taste.

The other huge impact will arise with the use of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) in beverages, which does have a powerful psychoactive effect. This style of cannabis beverages offers adult consumers a much healthier alternative to a social drink, where they will be able to enjoy a euphoric effect that many people view as being more enjoyable than the high by alcohol. And certainly without the negative health impact associated with consuming alcohol.

An important stance that Poison City Brewing has taken is to exclude the combination of THC and alcohol in their products. They are both powerful compounds with vastly different effects that are not complimentary, and the responsible route is to keep them separated.

“As a brand that was established to focus on the cannabis beverage market, we are very proud to have released Durban Poison Cannabis Lager as the first alcoholic cannabis beer in the South African market. This is a beer that uses hemp oil as its cannabis addition. Beer was a perfect start for us because hops and cannabis both come from the Cannabaceae plant family and share similar characteristics in many respects. In this way, it was possible to make a great tasting beer with cannabis. Our next products will be a non- alcoholic beverage with hemp. And when legislation permits, we will produce non-alcoholic beverages with CBD and THC respectively,” says Graeme.

Coming from Durban, which is renowned globally for the famous Durban Poison cannabis strain, Poison City Brewing has drawn heavily on their heritage to establish the brand.

“We believe strongly in the positive benefits possible from cannabis both from a health and socio-economic perspective, and would love to contribute towards establishing Durban in its rightful place as one of the global hubs of the cannabis world,” says Graeme.

Cannabis Café in the Heart of Jozi

The 420 Café has moved to new premises in the Randview Shopping Centre and is decked with décor and colours typically associated with the high life. The cafe offers the usual stoner fare, such as pizza, burgers and toasties, along with offerings of the herb variety. Your choice will set you back R100 to R1 000 depending on the quality of the experience you are after.

Medical Cannabis: The Next Economic Boom in SA?

Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, recently hosted a first-of-its-kind discussion on the economic potential of the medicinal cannabis industry for South Africa.

“The introduction of this licencing framework has resulted in significant investment interest from domestic and foreign investors in medicinal cannabis. There is now an opportunity for South Africa to become the leader on the continent, and for provinces like the Western and Eastern Cape to lead the country in the creation of jobs in this emerging sector.”

Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris

Topics discussed at the engagement included investment and export potential, the role of small-scale farmers, the Cape as a leader in innovation and research and development, and the regulatory reforms required to unlock associated job creation.

“In countries where the use of medical cannabis is legal, the process is strictly controlled. There are many legal and quality control requirements in order to produce pharmaceutical grade products. If we intend to pursue this industry, it is worth exploring cannabis as a crop for the Western Cape – the benefits, as illustrated in other countries that have already done the work, are enormous. In the United States, where a number of states allow its medicinal use, the number of job openings in the cannabis industry in 2017 grew by 445%, outpacing technology and healthcare. And it’s estimated that by 2020, they will be able to create 250 000 new jobs, creating jobs that never existed before. In Canada, universities are actually starting to offer cannabis-specific programmes to be able to staff the industry.”

Beverly Schäfer, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities

Recipes: Make your own canna oil and cannabis-infused coconut cream soup

Disclaimer: SA Chef and its affiliates promote the safe and responsible use of cannabis as per the regulations set out by the South African Constitution. SA Chef Media will not be held liable for any repercussions or any misuse of the product.

Source: SA Chef Magazine, Issue 12

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