As South Africa opens public comment on the Draft Cannabis Regulations for 2026, critical questions arise around access, safety, innovation, and economic inclusion. The proposed framework could reshape the country’s cannabis and hemp industries, with major implications for research, healthcare, and small-scale growers. We speak to Prof David Katerere, Research Platform Chair of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Advancement in Africa (PBA²) at Tshwane University of Technology, to unpack what the draft regulations get right—and where caution is needed.