An illegal cannabis cultivation lab was found in Sunningdale by officers of the Table View Police Station after a tip-off which led to the arrest of a 27 year-old man on Monday 15 May.
The search recovered large quantities of dried cannabis, cannabis plants and other equipment used to grow and harvest cannabis, according to Capt Adriana Chandler, spokesperson of Table View Police Station.
“In one of the bedrooms, the officers found 10 20 litre plastic containers with loose cannabis concealed inside, ziplock bags with cannabis and refuse bags with cannabis plant stems were also discovered in the same bedroom,” Chandler says.
Upon further inspection, the police also uncovered a large scale cultivation laboratory, fully equipped with extractor fans, lights and a device which extracts oil from cannabis flowers.
“The officers saw enough to arrest the 27-year-old male on charges of dealing and cultivation of an illegal substance,” Chandler said.
In total, 31 bags filled with dried cannabis were handed in as evidence.
The arrested male appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 16 May.
There are specific laws regarding the cultivation of cannabis formally published during 2020.
According to section three of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, published in the Government Gazette, South African citizens are allowed to have unlimited seedlings (plants that are 15 cm tall), and wide with no flowers in private areas.
Moreover, cannabis growers can cultivate four flowering cannabis plants per adult, or eight flowering plants per dwelling of two or more adults, and are allowed to be in possession of up to 100 g dried cannabis in public.
The Government Gazette also includes that citizens are allowed to be in possession of up to 600 g dried cannabis in private, and 1 200 g per dwelling.
Lastly, the public can receive, or provide 30 cannabis seedlings, one flowering plant and 100 g of dried cannabis from someone else without remuneration.
“This bill was legalised to regulate the possession of cannabis plant cultivation material, the cultivation of cannabis plants, the possession of cannabis, and the consumption of cannabis, and any person that cultivates more than the mentioned amounts can be prosecuted,” according to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill.
- For more information about South African cannabis laws, visit https://bit.ly/3sRq1WA.
