Zimbabwe says it is cutting medical cannabis licensing fees by up to 90% to boost sector

https://www.law.co.zw/download/statutory-instrument-108-of-2026-dangerous-drugs-production-of-cannabis-for-medicinal-and-scientific-use-amendment-regulations-2026-no-2/#google_vignetteZimbabwe’s government cuts medical cannabis licensing fees by up to 90% under Statutory Instrument 108 of 2026, published in July, with the aim of attracting more participants to the sector, including young people and tobacco farmers looking for alternative crops.

The new regulations transfer oversight of the licensing process to the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. New licence application fees fall from US$10,000 to $1,000, five-year renewal fees drop from $50,000 to $7,500, inspection fees decrease from $2,500 to $400, and import or export licence fees fall from $5,000 to $75.

At a media briefing on 4 August 2026, Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube said the government cut fees to bring more workers into the sector, attract young people, transition tobacco farmers to medical cannabis cultivation, and draw greater foreign investment. In the first four years after Zimbabwe first regulated cannabis cultivation under Statutory Instrument 62 of 2018, the Medicines Control Authority issued only 57 licences, of which only 15 proceeded to cultivation, a result stakeholders attribute to the previous fee levels.

S. I. 108 of 2026 Dangerous Drugs nom

Marshall Malikebu, a farmer and cannabis advocate, told TalkingDrugs: “Reducing the fees opens up more opportunities for jobs, income for farmers and foreign currency through exports. With our traditional cash crop tobacco facing declining global demand, medical cannabis presents a clear alternative path for the nation.” He added: “From a health perspective, it’s also a milestone because we can now leverage our own locally grown cannabis to manufacture pharmaceutical products and improve access to medicine.”

Kudzai Hwari, an agronomist and farmer, told TalkingDrugs the move would open doors for young people, while also cautioning: “It’s not a walk in the park, though there is a reduction in licensing fees, it’s still high for most players considering our economy. Those who are financially stable can only venture into the industry if the deal is profitable to them.”

Both Hwari and Malikebu call on government to educate farmers, provide loans, guarantee markets, and extend support services comparable to those available to tobacco growers. Malikebu identifies access to finance, reliable electricity and water, international compliance standards, and continued regulatory clarity as key challenges that still need to be resolved. A 2023 workshop between government officials, licence holders, and researchers flagged the same concerns, including banks’ reluctance to lend to cannabis farmers for fear of association with “dangerous drugs” and the risk of compromising their other business activities.

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https://www.mmjdaily.com/article/9887004/zimbabwe-slashes-medical-cannabis-licensing-fees-by-up-to-90-to-boost-sector/?utm_source=policy_decoded&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=there-are-three-kinds-of-lies-lies-damned-lies-and-statistics

This Statutory Instrument 108 of 2026 contains the Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (No. 2). Issued by the Minister of Health and Child Care under the Dangerous Drugs Act [Chapter 15:02], this amendment introduces significant administrative and security structural updates for the commercial cultivation of medicinal cannabis and scientific research in Zimbabwe.

Key Regulations and Highlights:

• Administrative Shift to MCAZ: The administration and enforcement of cannabis licensing are officially designated to the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), acting in consultation with the Minister. MCAZ will manage applications, establish an oversight Committee, and run a dedicated compliance inspectorate team.
• Redefined “Cannabis Plant”: The updated definition specifically excludes industrial fibres, crushed non-germinable seeds, fixed seed oils, and Cannabis sativa variants carrying a Delta-9 THC concentration of less than 1% on a dry weight basis.
• Strict Outdoor Cultivation Conditions: Cultivation must occur in a controlled greenhouse or indoor facility. MCAZ may only grant outdoor exemptions if the site maintains a minimum 15km radius buffer zone from the nearest cannabis or industrial hemp farm to prevent cross-pollination.
• High-Security Infrastructure Fencing: Outdoor cultivation areas must be surrounded by a specialized high-security perimeter barrier that is at least 2.1 meters high, electrified, high-strength, anti-climb, anti-crawl, and anti-cut.
• Mandatory Post-Harvest Destruction: To curb local black-market leakage, licensed producers must export harvested cannabis within 12 months. Failure to export within this window requires mandatory notification to MCAZ, which will order the immediate destruction of the finished product.
• 5-Year License Validity: Producer licenses are valid for 5 years. If a producer fails to commence operations during the license period, MCAZ reserves the right to refuse renewal. Expired licenses cannot be casually renewed and must be processed as entirely new applications.

Revised Official Fee Structure (First Schedule):

Item / Process Prescribed Fee (USD)

Application and Issuance of an Additional Site

$10,000

Annual Return Fees

$1,500

Inspection Fee

$400 (plus cost of inspection)

Application for Variation of License

$250

Application for Import / Export License

$75

Import / Export of Samples

$75

Statutory Instrument 108 of 2026 – Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (No. 2)