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They call it weed – marijuana – insangu – umthunzi wezinkukhu. World markets refer to it as Cannabis.

Following the legalisation of the medicinal cannabis industry in South Africa, many ordinary members of communities in KZN, who have been growing Insangu for years, look set to enter the global trading markets as suppliers of cannabis.

With about R107-billion of value in the local industry, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Siboniso Duma together with MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Super Zuma are championing radical interventions to unlock this potential for the benefit of local communities.

They have announced that a two-day KZN Cannabis - Hemp Conference & Expo will take place in Okhahlamba Sports Complex in Bergville from the 27 to 28 October at 08h30.

This forms part of information sharing sessions planned to take place throughout the corners of the province.

Rural communities look set to enter the global cannabis trading markets as entrepreneurs who will become the leading exporters of Cannabis.

Critically, an integrated approach involving all government departments and entities will enable communities to have access to the cutting edge technology, funding and world markets.

The Analytical Services Laboratory at Cedara and Agro Processing facilities at the Dube Trade  are facilities that will ensure that rural communities are empowered to produce medicinal cannabis of high quality that meets global standards.

To the cancer patient, cannabis is the plant that fights nausea and appetite loss.

To the nutritionist, it is a seed, second only to the soybean in nutritional value and is a source of cooking oil and vitamins.

To the paper or cloth manufacturer, it is the plant that provide much of our paper and clothing for hundreds of years and produces four times more fiber per acre than trees.

To the environmentalist, it is the plant that could greatly slow deforestation, restore robbed nutrients by other crops.

The two-day KZN Cannabis - Hemp Conference & Expo will be attended by the KZN Premier, Members of the Executive Council, industry experts, government departments and entities, Amakhosi, Local Communities, Co-operatives, SMMEs, Rastafarian Community - Creatives &Culture  Industry and the media.

Issued jointly by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs & the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development