Botswana: Parliament facilitates the implementation of the legal cannabis sector
The Parliament of Botswana adopted in July 2026 an amendment to the industrial development law to facilitate the implementation of the legal cannabis industry. The measure concerns exclusively medical, scientific, research, and industrial uses, and does not legalize recreational consumption.
SUMMARY
The text, presented as the Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill No. 3 of 2026, aligns the Industrial Development Act of 2019 with the Cannabis Act of 2025. According to the official report published on July 23, the aim is to prevent the manufacturing and processing of cannabis products from falling under overlapping regulatory procedures.
The Cannabis Act was passed by Parliament on August 19, 2025. The implementation regulations published on January 12, 2026, specifically govern licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, importation, exportation, transportation, distribution, and research.
In a budget document presented to Parliament in March 2026, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture indicated that the National Cannabis Control Authority had begun its activities. A public farm located in Dibete was selected for the first phase of cultivation.
Two pilot licenses already granted
The same official document reports that two pilot cultivation licenses have already been granted, while other applications are under review. Authorized companies must collaborate with the National Institute of Agricultural Research and Development, particularly for research and skills transfer.
The regulations impose separate permits depending on the activities and provide for security, traceability, and control requirements. The government thus presents cannabis as a regulated industry with high added value, rather than as the opening of a general consumption market.
This policy is part of the search for new growth drivers for an economy still heavily dependent on diamonds. Botswana joins several Southern African countries, including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, which have established frameworks for certain medical or industrial uses of cannabis.
The authorities have not yet published a consolidated target regarding expected investments, the areas to be cultivated, or the volumes intended for export. The last parliamentary step announced in July initially focused on clarifying the responsibilities between the bodies responsible for authorizing and controlling the industry.
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