The changing face of cannabis

'Embracing cannabis wasn't rebellion; it was recognition of potential'

- By Mbalenhle Zuma [e-mail]

The herb once condemned and criminalised, is now the model for all-round good health from promoting the growth and repair of nerve cells and supporting a healthy nervous system to enhancing memory, focus and mental clarity.

This has been the journey of cannabis from being vilified to being celebrated across industries, from skincare and art to high-end lounges and fashion.

Tshepo Mokoena, founder of Northcliff Potaround, Johannesburg's sophisticated cannabis boutique and social space, says the plant's metamorphosis represents more than a lifestyle trend. It is, he says, a story of redemption and recognition.

"I remember the stigma," Mokoena recalls. "People associated cannabis with crime or laziness, not wellness or entrepreneurship. In South Africa, that judgement ran deep; it wasn't just social, it was moral and legal. Yet even then, there were people who quietly understood its potential."