Title: The Cannabis Production Landscape in the Kingdom of Lesotho In the heart of South Africa lies the picturesque Kingdom of Lesotho, one of the first African countries to legalize medical marijuana.
The history of Cannabis Production in the Kingdom of Lesotho Cannabis has been grown in Lesotho since the 16th century. Furthermore, the Koena people used it to trade land from the San tribes. Cannabis crops soon became a staple in the country. Although illegal, cannabis cultivation was tolerated due to the economic benefits it brought into the impoverished nation. At one time, the Kingdom of Lesotho supplied South Africa with 70% of its marijuana supply. In 2001 Lesotho drafted the Drugs of Abuse Bill. Consequently, this led to a decrease in the movement of illegal drugs in and out of the country. 2017 saw the Kingdom legalize cannabis cultivation and distribution for medical purposes. 2017 and 2018 saw five companies licensed to cultivate in Lesotho, including CanAfrica, a holding of International Cannabis Corp.
Opportunities for Medical Marijuana Processing and Distribution in the Kingdom of Lesotho The warm, temperate climate of Lesotho, with almost 300 days of sunshine a year, makes it ideal for growing cannabis. It is especially ideal for using greenhouses. Fertile soil, devoid of pesticides and chemicals, grows a crop sought after by the rest of the world. Cannabis grown in Lesotho has a purity rarely found anywhere else. The ideal climate, low-cost of greenhouse growing, proximity to Europe and access to an eager workforce makes Lesotho the ideal opportunity for successful operations. Lesotho has a population of 2.23 million with health care expenditures of $275 million; a large potential in a small package.
International Cannabis Corp.’s role in cannabis production and distribution in Lesotho
CanAfrica is a holding of International Cannabis Corp. It has license to cultivate, manufacture, supply, hold, import, export and transport marijuana and its derivative products. ICC believes that working with the Kingdom of Lesotho further extends the company’s network. This allows for increased reach to distribute its products into and from Europe, as well as the west. Operations in Lesotho are an important addition to ICC’s award-winning BioCanna ADM automated retail system.
Conclusion: ICC’s cannabis production opportunities in the rest of Africa In conclusion, International Cannabis Corp. also has a holding, Africannabis, in Lesotho’s surrounding neighbour, South Africa. South Africa is home to a population of 56 million people, with healthcare expenditures of $8.8 billion. Africannabis works exclusively with NuCare Health to provide Cannabis products from Lesotho to over 2,800 independent and corporate pharmacies across South Africa. NuCare provides partners with access to innovative consumer products. They encourage strategic partnerships with key suppliers, while managing channel pressure. NuCare also provides their partners with access to education and training resources. The trifecta of CanAfrica, Africannabis and NuCare Health strengthen ICC’s overall seed-to-sale objectives. ICC’s growing network from North and South America, and Europe to Africa allows access to different types of climates and strain variations. Cultural influences on marijuana cultivation, and advances in technology in each of the countries ICC works in, builds ICC’s resources and knowledge base. Implementing the experiences and resources from multiple countries, establishes ICC’s strains as some of the best in the world.