The South African Medical Journal’s Position Statement On Cannabis

There is an ongoing national debate around cannabis policy. This brief position statement by the Executive Committee of the Central Drug Authority outlines some of the factors that have contributed to this debate, delineates reduction strategies, summarises the harms and benefits of marijuana, and provides recommendations. These recommendations emphasise an integrated and evidence-based approach, the need for resources to implement harm reduction strategies against continued and chronic use of alcohol and cannabis, and the potential value of a focus on decriminalisation rather than the legalisation of cannabis.

S Afr Med J 2016;106(6):569-570. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i6.10863

SAMJ Position Statement On Cannabis