This month, the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services invited interested parties and stakeholders to make written submissions on proposals to extend the scope of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill.
CLICK TO READ THE DRAFT CANNABIS FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES BILL
CLICK TO READ CYPSA’S SUBMISSION CANNABIS FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES BILL
CYPSA believes that elders, parents and educators have not been adequately included in the consultation processes surrounding this Bill and that the provisions of the Bill will only serve to fuel increased drug use, violence perpetrated against teachers, gender based violence and poor academic performance amongst South African youth of school going age and our society in general.
As parents and educators know, social ills such as cannabis and drug use in communities surrounding our schools cannot be considered in isolation, as these social ills percolate into our schools. It is therefore crucial that you as elders, parents, principals and teachers have a voice in the processes surrounding this Bill.
CYPSA believes that this Bill will amount to a violation of the best interests of the child principle (s28(2)), the right of children to a quality education (s29) and the right of teachers to practice their profession without hindrance (s22), protected under the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Please discuss the issue with your family, friends and contacts in order to create further awareness surrounding the issue of the dangers of decriminalized cannabis, and email your views and comments on the proposed Bill and cannabis decriminalization to us at [email protected].
CYPSA represents grass roots communities across South Africa and we will gladly incorporate your feedback in our future communications.
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