I found myself in Cape Town with my family during the Cannabis Expo weekend. With a bit of persuasion, I convinced my wife to let me attend the Expo for a day. On Saturday, 23 March 2024, I embarked on a long walk from Beach Street to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), with Robben Island behind me. It was a pleasant stroll, passing the DHL Stadium, but I was surprised when I had to wait forever to cross the road. It wasn’t until I pressed the pedestrian “button” on the traffic light that it worked—something that hadn’t happened since I was a boy growing up in Pretoria.
I was amazed. In Cape Town, things actually work. The response time on the pedestrian lights was swift, a reminder of how efficient this city is. I love Cape Town because it feels safe, and I realized I wasn’t on high alert as I usually am elsewhere. However, it’s also ironic—most of the security personnel maintaining this sense of safety are from Zimbabwe.
After a 45-minute walk, I finally reached the CTICC and began exploring the Cannabis Expo. Having attended the Johannesburg Expo twice in November 2023, my excitement for this one was somewhat tempered. The Cape Town event seemed smaller and more relaxed, but something was off—particularly at the Freedom Fest
In Johannesburg, the Freedom Fest was a highlight, but in Cape Town, cannabis smokers were relegated behind the stage. At a Cannabis Expo, of all places, you couldn’t enjoy cannabis freely. Meanwhile, alcohol drinkers could fully partake in the so-called Freedom Fest. The irony of this setup felt uniquely Cape Town—a city full of contradictions that somehow make sense here.
The Expo, however, did more than highlight these ironies; it showcased the deep inequalities that persist in our country. As expected, the white, moneyed elite had created a platform to exhibit their products for mass consumption, often disrespecting the very consumers they targeted. I attended a presentation by Ami Hestek from Fields of Green for All, and though her words were diplomatic and polite, I sensed an undercurrent of dissatisfaction. Even she seemed aware that the Expo was more about business than people, and even less about cannabis itself.
Yet, her presentation did leave me with a powerful takeaway: the potential of cannabis to become a full-fledged economy in South Africa. I genuinely believe that cannabis can unlock immense economic opportunities for everyone in our country. If we all start growing cannabis at home, we’ll be on the path to true prosperity—a reality where every citizen can reap what they sow
A Simple Model for Cannabis-Based Prosperity:
- Grow food and cannabis, harvest, and consume.
- Grow more cannabis with family and friends, form a club, and share the surplus with the community.
- Expand cannabis cultivation within the community and start creating products from extractions.
- Develop related industries within the community:
- Nutrients, fertilizers, and soil
- Training services, security
- Trimming, gardening services, consultation, harvesting
- Countless other opportunities
- Host local exhibitions to showcase community talent and progress.
The truth is, the opportunities are endless. It all depends on what the community needs and wants to achieve. Most importantly, it depends on whether the community is willing to strive for anything at all. This isn’t about political affiliations; it’s about people living in the same area who share an interest in economic abundance.
So, while the Cannabis Expo may highlight the disparities in our society, the real opportunity lies in our hands. Grow your own cannabis, build your community, and let’s create a prosperous future—one that isn’t dependent on capitalist structures but on our collective efforts and shared vision.