Insights into South Africa's Growing Cannabis Industry with Farmer Marco Brink

Marco Brink, a seasoned cultivator in South Africa's green sector offers an invaluable perspective on the cannabis industry. A farmer by trade, 42-year-old Brink dove into cannabis farming following the Constitutional and High Court's 2018 rulings sanctioning cultivation for personal use.

Having been an agricultural practitioner even before his foray into cannabis, Brink was ready to add another facet to his farming expertise. His knowledge—honed from farming fresh produce—aided him in navigating through the intricate process of growing cannabis.

Over the past five years, Brink has fine-tuned his methods, moving from planting cannabis seeds directly into the soil to creating a mother-and-clone system—an approach that allows for clone propagation from a large cannabis plant termed the "mother plant". This method improves the success rate of harvest and enables cultivators to perpetuate high-performing strains.

A testament to his evolved farming knowledge, Brink's harvest has grown significantly—from 30 grams per plant during his first cultivation to about 150 grams per plant now. Yet, troubles remain in the sale of cannabis, perpetuating the industry's status as a legal "grey" area. To circumvent this uncertainty, Brink has joined a cannabis club where the safety of community prevails over the complexity of a commercial operation.

Brink extracts benefits from his membership, fulfilling contracts to grow specific strains for other members. He noted that indica-dominant strains such as Swazi gold and Acapulco gold thrive in South Africa's climate.

Despite the promising aspect of cannabis farming, Brink does not view it as a significant business venture. He cited the ambiguous legal situation as a barrier, suggesting that it could be a while before the industry gains complete legal status. Regardless, he pledges to continue his cultivation, viewing the 2018 ruling as an opportunity to diversify his offering.