Cannabis: Break Pretoria’s bureaucracy and SA will lead world in booming sector
In a jovial manner Finance Minister Tito Mboweni tweeted over the weekend that 'legalising this thing (cannabis) = more tax revenue. I need more tax (money) urgently!! Radical Economic Transformation!. On the serious front Mboweni has to deliver a budget plan at the end of the month and needs to fill what is expected to be a monthly R25bn tax hole. And when one deals with finances there are two options, cut spending or raise income. Pierre van der Hoven, familiar with the cannabis industry, supports the urgent call to legalise the industry, as South Africa loses out to less favourable locations such as Canada. It's a discussion with Biznews editor-in-chief Alec Hogg that'll hopefully get those involved off their butts. – Stuart Lowman
Pierre van der Hoven, no relation to the van Hoven's at Comair, which is a pity as we could have got some further insight into what is happening there. However we have a more interesting discussion on a fascinating situation here in South Africa where the minister of finance who has a farm in Magoebaskloof has got cannabis plants or dagga as its known in South Africa growing wild. He says on Twitter come and arrest me if you think this is illegal, however South Africa needs the tax money. It would make sense to legalise this industry as we could be one of the best in the world. So you're in it now, how did you get into cannabis?
___STEADY_PAYWALL___