At Daggabay, we’ve always been passionate about the weed industry in South Africa, a space that’s alive, vibrant, and undeniably moving forward, even if it exists in what many call a “grey zone.”
A few years back, we ran the weed Map app, a project we were incredibly proud of. It was our way of shining a light on an industry that, despite its legal uncertainties, was already taking root across the country.
At its peak, the app listed around 700 places where people could access dagga private clubs, dispensaries, and other venues operating through loopholes or in defiance of the still-unclear laws. Today, that number has reportedly grown to an estimated 1,500, a testament to the fact that South Africa’s weed industry isn’t waiting for permission to exist it’s here, and it’s thriving.
In this article, we’ll take you through our journey with the weed Map, why we eventually took it down, and what the current state of the industry tells us about its future. We’ll explore how private clubs and dispensaries are navigating this grey zone, draw lessons from Spain’s private club model, and compare dagga regulations to the straightforward world of microbreweries. Most importantly, we’ll argue that while the industry is ready, the government needs to catch up with clear, inclusive regulations that don’t shut out the average Joe with a green dream.
The weed Map: Our Window into the Grey Zone
When we launched the weed Map app, our goal was simple: connect people with the growing network of cannabis friendly spots across South Africa. By the time we took it down, it featured around 700 locations private clubs, dispensaries, and other places where cannabis was available, often through creative interpretations of the law. We were proud to support an industry that was pushing boundaries and meeting a clear demand, even if it operated in a legal limbo.
South Africa’s cannabis laws are a mixed bag. In 2018, the Constitutional Court decriminalized personal use, possession, and cultivation of cannabis in private spaces, a ground breaking move that gave individuals the freedom to grow and consume at home. But when it comes to commercial activities selling, distributing, or trading cannabis—the law remains silent. The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, signed in 2024, clarified some aspects of personal use but left commercial operations in the same grey zone they’ve been in for years. This lack of clarity has allowed businesses to pop up, often operating as “private clubs” or through loopholes, while the government drags its feet on comprehensive regulations.
Our Cannabis Map was a snapshot of this reality.
It showed how widespread the industry had become, even without official approval. But as we watched the landscape evolve, we started to see the risks of keeping it live—risks tied to the very nature of how these businesses survive.
Why We Took It Down: Lessons from Spain
The decision to shut down the Cannabis Map wasn’t easy, but it came down to one word: privacy. In South Africa, the 2018 ruling emphasized that cannabis activities should happen in private, a principle echoed in the requirements for growing cannabis here one of which is that there should be no advertising of cannabis on the premises. This got us thinking about Spain, where private cannabis clubs have operated for years under a similar model.
In Spain, these clubs function as non profit, member only groups. Members collectively grow cannabis and share it among themselves, avoiding public sales or advertising. The idea is that by keeping things private and discreet, they stay within a legal grey area that authorities have largely tolerated. But when clubs get too public—advertising their services or attracting non members they often face legal crackdowns.
We realized our Cannabis Map might be crossing a similar line.
By publicly listing private clubs and dispensaries, we were potentially exposing them to scrutiny they couldn’t afford. In South Africa, where the law is even less defined than in Spain, advertising these spots could undermine the loopholes they rely on to operate. Plus, with 700 locations already on the map, we saw how fast the industry was growing—and how much was at stake if we accidentally put a target on its back.
So, we pulled the plug😭 choosing to protect the movement rather than risk jeopardizing it.
The Industry Today: 1,500 Strong and Counting
We are NOT keeping record anymore you can just Google it or read our reviews.
Even without our map, the cannabis industry in South Africa hasn’t slowed down.
Today, there are an estimated 1,500 private clubs, dispensaries, and other venues where people can get cannabis.
That’s more than double the number we had listed, and it shows just how unstoppable this movement is. These businesses aren’t waiting for the government to give them a green light they’re here, operating in the grey zone, playing with loopholes, and meeting a demand that’s only growing.
Private clubs are a big part of this. Based loosely on Spain’s system, many argue they’re not “selling” cannabis but sharing it among members in a private setting, which they believe keeps them compliant with the 2018 ruling. Dispensaries, meanwhile, often operate under the radar, offering cannabis products through informal networks or discreet transactions. While technically illegal, these setups are rarely challenged in a meaningful way, partly because the law hasn’t caught up to define what’s allowed and what isn’t.
But this grey zone comes with challenges. Without regulations, there’s no standard for what cannabis products should look like no rules for labelling THC or CBD content, no health and safety inspections, no consumer protections. Departments like Health and Trade are still figuring out how to handle this boom, leaving businesses and consumers to fend for themselves. It’s a Wild West scenario, and while it’s exciting, it’s also risky.
Microbreweries: A Blueprint for Cannabis?
One question we keep coming back to is: why can’t cannabis be regulated like alcohol? Take microbreweries, for example. In South Africa, opening a microbrewery isn’t overly complicated. You follow health and safety requirements, pay a small yearly fee, get inspected, and you’re good to go legally brewing and selling beer to the public. It’s a system that works, balancing oversight with accessibility, and it doesn’t exclude small players.
We think cannabis could follow a similar path. Imagine a framework where small scale growers or dispensaries register, meet basic standards, and operate legally. You’d need rules labelling requirements, quality checks, maybe a licensing fee but nothing so bad that it shuts out the average Joe with a green dream. The microbrewery model proves you can regulate an industry without strangling it, and it could be a way to bring South Africa’s cannabis scene out of the shadows.
Right now, the lack of regulation Favours big players who can afford legal risks or navigate loopholes with expensive lawyers. Small growers and entrepreneurs the heart of this industry deserve a seat at the table too. A microbrewery style system could level the playing field, letting everyone from rural farmers to urban club owners participate in a legal cannabis economy.
The Road Ahead: Regulation, Not Restriction
The cannabis industry in South Africa is here to stay. With 1,500 venues and counting, it’s past the point of being a niche experiment it’s a full-blown movement. But for it to reach its potential, we need the government to step up. The departments tasked with regulating cannabis Health, Agriculture, Trade need to stop playing catch up and start setting clear rules. What should labels look like? How can businesses operate legally? Who gets to participate?
These rules shouldn’t just be about control they should balance public safety with economic opportunity and social justice. Cannabis has deep roots in South African culture, and any framework needs to respect that, ensuring small players aren’t squeezed out by corporate giants. We need standards, yes, but they should encourage growth, not stifle it.
In the meantime, businesses in the grey zone have to be smart. Staying discreet avoiding flashy ads or public exposure is key to surviving until the law catches up. At Daggabay, we learned that lesson with the Cannabis Map, and we’re passing it on to anyone building in this space.
The Green Dream Lives On
Looking back, we’re still proud of what the Cannabis Map represented a bold step into South Africa’s cannabis frontier. It showed us an industry that’s alive and kicking, even without a rulebook, and the sky didn’t fall.
Today, with 1,500 private clubs and dispensaries thriving in the grey zone, that energy is stronger than ever. The industry isn’t waiting for permission—it’s forging ahead, loopholes and all.
But the grey zone isn’t sustainable forever. We need regulations that match the reality on the ground simple, fair, and inclusive, like the microbrewery model. Until then, we’ll keep watching, advocating, and cheering on the green dreamers making it happen.
Follow us for more updates as this story unfolds.
South Africa’s cannabis industry is just getting started.
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