JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The South African constitutional court on Tuesday ruled it is legal to cultivate and consume marijuana for personal use.
The highest court in the land has decriminalized the private use of marijuana. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has upheld the Western Cape High Court's ruling that marijuana can be used at home and ruled that Parliament must change its Drug Trafficking and Medicines Control Acts.
However, the judgment did not spell out the amount that can be used by an adult in private use. But Justice Zondo said this must be determined by parliament. It must be for the personal use of the person.
The court admitted medical studies that showed alcohol caused more harm than marijuana and that there was little data to show that criminalizing marijuana reduced harmful use.
Justice Zondo said he took into account international law allowing the private use of marijuana at home.
