Waiting Game

This is part of a choose-your-own-adventure style game about the cannabis scene in South Africa. Click here to go to the start (#page1).

Day 1: Deep in the medical cannabis process in Cape Town, it’s a slog—forms in triplicate, doctor’s letters, the works.

Day 14: Still waiting for the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to approve the Section 21 application, needed for legal access to medical cannabis like MediWeed Tincture, a 5:1 CBD-THC mix.

Day 28: Weeks of waiting—four weeks, to be exact, the average delay reported by the Cape Cannabis Access Network (CCAN) in 2025, due to backlogs and strict vetting for conditions like chronic pain.

It’s a nightmare—SAHPRA requires a specialist’s diagnosis, proof of failed treatments, and a fee, as noted by the South African Patient Advocacy Group (SAPAG), making it tough for rural patients.

Patience is wearing thin, especially knowing the Western Cape Traditional Healers Forum (WCTHF) offers raw cannabis for healing, but it’s not legally recognized for medical use.

What’s your play?

Check alternatives – Look into other options.

Join a support group – Connect with fellow patients.

Jump ship – Abandon the slow boat for speed.