01 / Legal · South Africa
Medical cannabis
Cannabis accessed through a regulated, prescription-based clinical pathway.
02 / Definition
What is Medical cannabis?
Medical cannabis refers to cannabis products supplied to a patient through a regulated clinical route rather than private or recreational use. In South Africa this generally means a healthcare practitioner’s prescription and, for unregistered products, a SAHPRA Section 21 authorisation. It is a legal and clinical framework, and this glossary makes no claims about treatment outcomes.
03 / Related terms
See also
Section 21
SAHPRA’s authorisation pathway to access unregistered medicines.
Prescription (Rx)
A practitioner’s written authorisation to supply a scheduled medicine.
Schedule 6
The high-control medicines schedule that covers most THC-containing cannabis.
SAHPRA
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.