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South Africans have welcomed the Constitutional Court judgment which legalised the private consumption of dagga.
"The right to privacy is not confined to a home or private dwelling. It will not be a criminal offence for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private space," Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said on Tuesday.
Scroll down for the full judgment.
READ: ConCourt rules that personal use of dagga is not a criminal offence
The landmark judgment did not specify what amount of dagga constituted private use, and followed a decision of the Western Cape High Court which ruled sections 4(b) and 5(b) of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and section 22A(9)(a)(i) of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act as unconstitutional.
"This judgment must, thus, not be read to extend any further than the narrow confines of the dispute as I have defined it," the Western Cape High Court emphasised.
READ: Dagga can be used in the home, Western Cape High Court rules
Following an appeal by State, the case was heard in the Constitutional Court, which confirmed the lower court's ruling.
Parliament has to amend specific legislation to harmonise it with the court's judgment.
On dagga activist Jeremy Acton's Facebook page, many users celebrated:
"Bless Up to Jeremy David Acton, The Dagga Couple, Gareth Prince and everybody else that's been fighting on the Front Line for Legalization. 1 step in the right direction," wrote Facebook user Jason Havoc.
"Congratulations to the great Ras Gareth Prince and Jeremy David Acton. Thanks to you, the healing herb that helped my late brother with his cancer is now free," wrote Ross Hooper.
"Well done Jeremy David Acton you kicked ass my brother. Finally it's legalized," wrote Michael Van der Linde.
Twitter users reacted with joy to the judgment:
South Africa's constitutional court has ruled that the private use of marijuana is legal. This has the potential to free up lots of police resources, to reduce police corruption, and to reduce unnecessary conflict between police and the public. #marijuana #dagga @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/GgVl6Fh3pH
— Andrew Faull (@AGFaull) September 18, 2018
Rastas outside the Constitutional Court have already started growing their first #dagga plant. (@iavanpijoos) pic.twitter.com/wEAA6MC8co
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) September 18, 2018
So The Constitutional Court has decided that private use of #Dagga is now legal. Which won't change much, coz WE'VE BEEN HAVING IT. pic.twitter.com/N0LinxkimQ
— Lusso??????????? (@1st_Vince) September 18, 2018
BREAKING: ConCourt rules that private use of dagga is not a criminal offence.
— food24.com (@food24) September 18, 2018
We have exactly the cookbook for you, South Africa! @News24 #dagga https://t.co/3rHenMHHHI pic.twitter.com/yz5dGxiMbM
??legalize it. Don't criticize it and I will advertise it
— Mokgaga (@katlegovic) September 18, 2018
Doctors smoke it
Nurses smoke it
Judges smoke it
Even Lawyers too
It's good for flu
Good for asthma
Good for tuberculosis
So you've got to legalize it.........?? Peter Tosh #Dagga #LegalizeMarijuana?? pic.twitter.com/XtCP3LKQy7
Bob Marley songs will be played ALL over SA today #dagga pic.twitter.com/cenCfmaup1
— Ru (@Ruann88) September 18, 2018
BREAKING: ConCourt rules that private use of dagga is not a criminal offence.
— food24.com (@food24) September 18, 2018
We have exactly the cookbook for you, South Africa! @News24 #dagga https://t.co/3rHenMHHHI pic.twitter.com/yz5dGxiMbM
??legalize it. Don't criticize it and I will advertise it
— Mokgaga (@katlegovic) September 18, 2018
Doctors smoke it
Nurses smoke it
Judges smoke it
Even Lawyers too
It's good for flu
Good for asthma
Good for tuberculosis
So you've got to legalize it.........?? Peter Tosh #Dagga #LegalizeMarijuana?? pic.twitter.com/XtCP3LKQy7
Bob Marley songs will be played ALL over SA today #dagga pic.twitter.com/cenCfmaup1
— Ru (@Ruann88) September 18, 2018
Excuse me while i light my spliff ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????#DaggaDecision #Dagga #Welovdagga pic.twitter.com/bQXbWTKMes
— #Venda La #Nwali ??????? (@Makwe2) September 18, 2018
#Dagga well here we go I'm no not afraid of no police ?????? pic.twitter.com/Zed0u31qIe
— Hlakaniphani Gcaba (@HlakaniphaniGc1) September 18, 2018
I remember when we used to talk about the legalization of marijuana and it seemed like something that would never happen in South Africa. #dagga
— BongsMakaveli (@BongsMakaveli) September 18, 2018
Follow @Duncan025Breaking news: The private use use of weed is now legal. The #ConCourt has ruled. #dagga
— Tshidiso Moleko (@TheRealMoleko) September 18, 2018
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