What would you expect when combining a powerhouse team, including the formidable Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, and the knowledge and experience of driving regulatory framework for controlled substances? One can expect only great things to come from this for our growing industry!

FICA (Fair-trade Independent Cannabis Association) is an association formulated with the intent of growing the industry to corporate status. It seeks to include all role players within the cannabis industry value chain to define a definitive direction towards the identity of the industry in the country and thus creating a unified voice that will lead the change towards policy reform.

SKYF.CO Magazine recently had an interview with the Chairman of FICA Mr. Sinenhlanhla Mnguni who gave us some insight into the association’s goals and objectives and also his views on the state of the cannabis industry at present.

Mr Mnguni, an experienced attorney with extensive experience in lobbying the prohibition of smoking products, is a well-known public figure in the tobacco industry who’s featured in many national news interviews in the fight against the trade of illicit cigarettes and also against the ban of cigarette sales during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

The Cannabis Master Plan proposed by government has been met with dismay from many who are involved in the cannabis industry. In the viewpoint of Mr. Mnguni and FICA’s stance on the matter he stated that the Master Plan is very simplistic in nature with a lot of factors not given consideration by government as well as a lack of engagement with the South African public and key role players in the cannabis industry during its formulation. FICA seeks to work hand-in-hand with government in engaging with these role players to ensure a solid framework is formulated that not only works with people who want to be involved but also reforms the country’s standing in terms of internationally recognised growth and trade.