High-Level Government Advisory: African Cannabis Policy Development

Client: Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs (ESACD)

When the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs—a prestigious body chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and including former presidents from across the region—needed expert guidance on cannabis policy development, they invited Dr. Bear to provide high-level counsel to member states considering regulatory reform. This distinguished commission represents one of the most significant regional policy initiatives in contemporary Africa, bringing together heads of state and senior government officials to address drug policy challenges through evidence-based approaches.

Dr. Bear and former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe

Dr. Bear participated in two critical regional consultations that shaped cannabis policy discourse across Eastern and Southern Africa. The first meeting, held in Maputo, Mozambique in August 2024, gathered representatives from over a dozen countries alongside former Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Cassam Uteem of Mauritius, and was opened by then-President Filipe Nyusi. Dr. Bear shared insights from Canada's legalization experience with senior government officials from Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The second expert meeting in Gaborone, Botswana in April 2025, opened by President Duma Gideon Boko, focused specifically on medical and scientific cannabis regulation, with Dr. Bear leading discussions on successful implementation strategies.

This work represents the highest levels of international policy consultation, requiring the ability to translate Canadian experiences into actionable guidance for African contexts while navigating complex regional political dynamics, diverse legal frameworks, and varying stages of policy development across participating nations. Dr. Bear's counsel on regulatory frameworks, compliance strategies, community consultation approaches, and protection against criminal exploitation has influenced policy development across multiple African nations as they consider their own approaches to cannabis regulation. The commission's European Union funding and involvement of current and former heads of state underscores the strategic importance of this advisory work in shaping regional drug policy for years to come.