Botswana finally appears to be moving on industrial hemp, after publishing new cannabis regulations last month that open up farming, processing, transport, research and trade – but not all stakeholders are happy about the developments.
Under the new framework, hemp is not defined as a separate legal category. Instead, the government uses the term “industrial cannabis,” with THC capped at 0.7%. Both CBD and marijuana remain illegal.
Cultivation is restricted to licensed operators under specific categories, including commercial growing, nurseries and seed production. Licenses are issued for three years and are subject to inspection and renewal.
Controls criticized
Critics say the rules create one of the African continent’s most tightly controlled cannabis systems, going further than stakeholders expected and prioritizing compliance, capital and institutional capacity over broader participation. Activists have called for recognition of cultural uses and hemp’s food-security potential, while other opponents question whether the regulations will deliver meaningful job creation.
Also under the tightly controlled system, licensee candidates must submit detailed documentation, including site maps with GPS coordinates, security clearance, crop management plans, THC testing protocols and proof of financial capacity. Manufacturing facilities must meet defined security and quality-control standards. Manufacturing licenses are valid for five years and may be suspended or revoked for violations.
Transport is treated as a controlled activity, with requirements for secure vehicles and documented chain-of-custody procedures. Research is designated as a separate licensed category covering breeding trials, agronomic studies and product development.
Imports and exports are permitted but subject to strict documentation and approval procedures.
All these requirements, some politicians have also said, are elitist and exclude ordinary farmers and rural stakeholders from taking part in a hemp economy.
Government support
Meanwhile, industrial and medical cannabis have been identified as part of President Duma Boko’s economic diversification agenda. Boko, who took office in November 2024, has suggested a robust hemp industry could help the country’s efforts to reduce dependence on diamonds, which account for a large share of Botswana’s foreign earnings.
Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe said this month that the government will back efforts to boost hemp development as part of a broader push in agriculture.
“This initiative will be implemented in phases, beginning with trials at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and progressively expanding to Batswana farmers who demonstrate interest and capacity to participate in these emerging value chains,” Gaolathe said.
He added that diversification through agriculture will require modern farming technologies, development of agro-industries and expanded green-energy solutions. The agriculture sector has been allocated 1.77 billion pula ($135 million), or 7.59% of the country’s farming development budget, including support for cannabis production and its regulatory framework.
Two licenses
Botswana this month issued only the second cannabis license in its history to Hemp Innovations Botswana, which is linked to Sweden-based Hemp Innovations Europe AB.
The Swedish company said it has signed an agreement with the Botswana government to help launch the country’s hemp and medical cannabis sectors, and is working with several ministries and authorities on an initial pilot program.
The first hemp license in Botswana was granted to Gaborone-based Fresh Standard Limited in 2018, but was later revoked by authorities. Despite the license being reinstated in 2022 after a High Court challenge, the company faded from public view without establishing a visible commercial operation.
Botswana’s arid climate and about 3,200 hours of annual sunlight make it suitable for crops requiring warm, dry conditions. Traditional agriculture has focused on drought-resistant crops and livestock, though limited rainfall continues to constrain productivity.