Zimbabwe: The Home of Green Ivory

If you could decide to have a grow-op where would you put it?

We’re sure you have some creative ideas – do share them in the comments – but maybe not as creative as Zimbabwe’s…

Fittingly, Ivory Medical has become the first grow operation in Zimbabwe to produce medicinal marijuana in a private prison, legally. Ivory was once the unshameful pride and joy of the colonial empire which hunted and killed the African wildlife for fun and profit. Ivory was a good exported out of Zimbabwe and unfortunately is still done so to this day. But with the finalised news of Ivory Medical and their Zimbabwe cannabis farm being announced this week the new colour of Ivory is green.

The license was approved in April of last year (2018) for this Zimbabwe cannabis farm but only now have the wheels on the cannabis bus started to roll. However, with this said recreational use of the plant is still very much illegal so if you plan on crossing the border this holiday season be sure to have a prescription, not a bankie.

This news is a massive momentum shift in Africa’s journey down the green brick road with two significant cannabis-themed conferences taking place (CannaTech & The Cannabis Expo). 

Zimbabwe and its recently appointed President Mnangagwa understand the need for a new economic vehicle, allowing for medical marijuana to be the driving force behind the once-great nation known as the “breadbasket” of Africa to be taken seriously again, for all the right reasons. 

Positive news is seldom heard about Zimbabwe, yet we all know as Africans, the country – and its people – have the capabilities to be the leader it once was. As cannabis is becoming the next big thing in Africa with a lot of countries proactively changing judicial law to kick start their economies, it makes us wonder what is taking SA so long? Countries across the continent have relied on exporting agricultural products like tobacco (or Ivory) for many years but now have found their demand in the global market diminishing. Education about tobacco is well known and the world is kicking the habit. These markets are just adapting to the basic economic laws of supply & demand. Zimbabwe understands very well what the next ‘demand’ is and they are perfectly poised to be an industry leader in medical marijuana.

According to IOL The Zimbabwean government can look to earn R280m from taxes. This much-needed cash injection would be used for social projects to reinvigorate and galvanize the country. According to the report Ivory Medical will be involved in a partnership with “the Ministry of Health and funded by NSK Holdings, other international investors, and Portuguese technical farming support firm Symtomax”. This is all positive news and a change from a past where Ivory was once all about murder but now has the chance to all be about medicine.

Freshly baked with every wake.

– Dabbing Dineo