South African govt. lifts ban on private use of marijuana
South Africa’s Constitutional Court has decriminalised the private use of marijuana.
The ruling came on Tuesday after a provincial high court in 2017 found out that the use of cannabis in private space should be allowed.
The court said laws against it were inconsistent with the country’s constitution.
“It will not be a criminal offence for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private space,’’ Judge Raymond Zondo said in his ruling.
The judgement did not say how much cannabis one may have at home for private use.
Marijuana advocates and members of South Africa’s Rastafarian community went into wild jubilation after the judgment.
“It’s been persecution and prosecution for the Rastafarian community,’’ one of those celebrating, Prince, told TV channel eNCA.
