Hemp farmer relieved, to start production

Daniel de Beer who is the Fresh Standard’s director, a company that was granted an exemption to plant and grow hemp, cannabis like plant for medicinal and industrial purposes, was on Friday granted a fresh start by the Gaborone High Court to continue the production. Justice, Chris Gabanagae of Gaborone High Court ruled that the revocation of exemption letter he was granted in October 2018 was illegal.

The farmer had gone into a legal battle with government after saying he invested millions of pula into the project based on an exemption granted by former agriculture minister, Patrick Ralotsia, only for the police to raid and uproot his fledgling crops suspecting that the plants were cannabis commonly known as ‘motokwane’. The judge on his reasons said the permanent secretary (PS) had no right to revoke the exemption letter that only the Minister had the power to do so. “The PS does not have the power or authority to withdraw the exemption.