Kicking Off Cannabis Education with Cheeba Africa

South Africa is, unfortunately, quite far behind the Western world when it comes to cannabis. The plant is still heavily stigmatised and misunderstood, creating the need for education on this plant. We have seen the rise of brands who bring education to the people in the form of articles and so on, but no local entities have introduced a full cannabis academy until now!

Cheeba Cannabis Academy Plant their Flag 

Cheeba Africa announced their online cannabis courses next week, covering topics for medical professionals and consumers alike. This comes at a time where the industry is just poised for rapid expansion, so it’s time for locals to get prepared. 

Co-founded by South African Trenton Birch, the focus will be to bring medicinal cannabis education to locals. He and teammate Jacqui Ramage kicked things off last week with their first webinar, and as nerve wracking as such a task can be, it was handled magnificently and the course struck plenty of interest.

The webinar was an introduction to the Cheeba Cannabis Academy and some of the coursework potential students could expect. Diving into the uses of medical cannabis, our Endocannabinoid System (ECS), cannabinoids, terpenes and more – it showed us and the rest of the audience that they are well and truly ready to put knowledge in the hands of the people. 

Prepping the Industry 

Industry analysts, Prohibition Partner, estimated that the local cannabis industry may be worth up to 120 million Rand annually by 2023.  Birch and co have noted that education is critical to establishing a world-leading, long-lasting and responsible industry, and will help locals develop an industry ecosystem where entrepreneurs, growers, professionals and employers can thrive. 

“Cannabis has the potential to positively impact our economy, facilitating large-scale job creation, uplifting low-income communities, especially in under-served rural areas as well as contributing to the overall improvement of people’s health. However, in order for this to happen, we need to provide opportunities for people to develop industry-specific skills.  Cheeba Africa is proud to be the first contributor in this space” says CEO and co-founder Trenton Birch.

The Future of Cannabis in South Africa 

In order to meet their own high standards of quality, the past 10 months have gone into global research and learning journeys across the globe, in spaces such as California and Barcelona. 

Partnering with Medical Marijuana 411, they are bringing an international level of learning to local soil. Initial courses offered by Cheeba will be aimed at those interested in the industry or adding cannabis to their skillset. This is just the start, as more detailed courses will be rolled out throughout the months to come. 

“Cheeba Cannabis Academy will soon offer a scholarship programme, and we will continue to host workshops in townships and rural areas when in-person training is possible again.” says Birch, showing good intentions to put this knowledge in the hands of those who can really put it to good use for their futures. 

Whether you’re new to cannabis or a seasoned veteran, surely we will all be able to learn a thing or two from the Cheeba team. If you’re passionate about cannabis and want to play a part in the future of the industry in South Africa, the best way to start is to make sure you’re well educated on all things cannabis!