Entrepreneurs showcased various cannabis products at the fourth cannabis and marula symposium in Schagen outside Mbombela.

The event, supported by the provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environment Affairs aims to highlight industry opportunities and celebrate national heritage.

Shiba Mashinini, who produces medicinal and industrial cannabis products, says that cannabis industry can combat the country’s poverty.

“I would love the government to engage the people that are already doing it. Regulation is not a problem. I think it’s a fact that they need to know how to manage it. So, to manage it is not going to be a problem if they just combine the people that are already doing it because we’ve been doing it for years, but regulation is omitting us to do cannabis in fullness. So, we would love the government to just loosen up on the regulation thing so that we can be productive and help our people get employed.”

The Provincial Manager for the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency under the Department of Small Businesses, Mandla Sibiya says their support is available for all kinds of businesses to ensure their sustainability.

“We assist primarily small businesses for their sustainability in business and to grow their business. We do non-financial services that is a support about the management of the business. So, we focus on the business itself and the owner in terms of how they should manage their businesses for them to grow their businesses.”

--SABC--