Medicines regulator battles to crack down on illegal medical cannabis products
SA Health Products Regulatory Authority is working with the police to stop the sale of unregistered medicines
SA’s medicines regulator is working closely with the police to clamp down on illegal sales of unregistered cannabis-containing products claiming medical benefits, but has yet to successfully prosecute any companies or individuals breaking the law, according a senior official at the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra). It means businesses are continuing to cash-in on consumer demand for medical cannabis products, despite the regulator’s efforts to bring order to the sector. One of the most popular products is cannabidiol (CBD) oil, which proponents claim treats an array of medical conditions ranging from cancer to arthritis. The Medicines and Related Substances Act says any products making medical claims must be registered with Sahpra as medicines. None of the products currently on the market are registered, and the regulator has no applications pending, said Sahpra’s head of enforcement Griffith Molewa. This means all the cannabis-containing products making medical cla...
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