Medical cannabis clinics in South Africa: the Section 21 route
Verdex lists 1 South African medical cannabis clinic network. Doctors apply to SAHPRA under Section 21; R400 fee, up to three working days.
This page is about South Africa — not the country you picked in the header.
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SAHPRA's Section 21 application fee is R400 (from February 13, 2025), and processing takes up to three working days, excluding time spent answering queries. Section 21 is the only legal route to THC medicine in South Africa, because no THC product has been registered: a registered practitioner applies for one named patient.
Cannabis Clinics South Africa works as a national network with an online patient portal, a doctor directory and a referral route for other physicians, rather than a walk-in clinic. It says its consultation, including the SAHPRA application, starts from R750 and can be claimed from medical aid, and product runs about R500 to R1,800 a month.
Showing 1 of 1 medical cannabis clinic in South Africa
Steps on the Section 21 route
| Step | Who acts |
|---|---|
| Check eligibility, book an assessment | Patient |
| Design a treatment plan if you qualify | Cannabinoid prescriber |
| Submit the Section 21 application online | Treating doctor, who takes clinical responsibility |
| Approve or query the application | SAHPRA |
| Pay for the medicine; receive it at home | Patient, through authorized pharmacies |
The network says cost depends on the ratio of THC to CBD and the amount used, and lists office hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00, with the online portal open at all times. Ask which prescriber you will see and for the SAHPRA approval reference before paying for product. The clinic lists faster heart rate, sedation and anxiety among side effects to discuss.
A "Section 21 provider" sign on a shop does not make it legal: the authorization is patient-specific, not a retail licence, and SAHPRA has issued no retail licences. Low-dose CBD is a separate, over-the-counter channel. See why dispensaries are a grey market and the CBD oil rules.
Questions about this list
What is a Section 21 application for cannabis in South Africa?
It is how a registered medical practitioner applies to SAHPRA to give a named patient an unregistered medicine. Because no THC medicine is registered in South Africa, medical cannabis reaches patients this way.
How much does a Section 21 cannabis application cost?
SAHPRA's fee is R400 (effective February 13, 2025), and applications are processed within three working days excluding queries. Cannabis Clinics South Africa says its consultation including the application starts from R750, plus product costs.
Can I get medical cannabis from a dispensary instead of a doctor?
No. According to SAHPRA no retail licence exists, and the certificates dispensaries display are usually grower licences. Legal THC access goes through a doctor's Section 21 application.
Buying in South Africa
Possession
Adults may possess cannabis in private for personal use (Prince, 2018). The 2024 Act is not yet in force; February 2026 draft regulations proposed 750 g in a private place.
Home grow
Private cultivation for personal use is protected; draft regulations (Feb 2026) proposed up to five plants.
Public use
Not protected; smoking or selling cannabis in public remains an offence.
Sales
Any sale of cannabis outside SAHPRA-licensed medical channels is a criminal offence; private clubs are in a grey zone.
Summary, not legal advice — rules change; check local law.
How this list is ranked
- License & compliance25%
- Customer reviews25%
- Lab & product transparency20%
- Pricing & value10%
- Service & access10%
- Complaint handling10%
Scores come from license records, published lab results, prices and public reviews. Sellers can’t pay to change their position.
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