The Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Summit returns to Johannesburg this month, bringing together African and international leaders in what organisers describe as the continent’s most influential cannabis business gathering.
Now in its third consecutive year, the summit will take place on Friday, 29 May 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in collaboration with The Cannabis Expo, and is expected to draw delegates from across Africa, Europe and the United States.
Positioned as a key deal-making and policy platform, the event aims to strengthen Africa’s role in the rapidly evolving global cannabis and hemp economy, with organisers saying it sits at the intersection of regulation, investment and commercialisation.
Presented by the Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy in strategic partnership with the Global Cannabis Network Collective, the summit is billed as the largest dedicated cannabis and hemp business conference on the continent.
Africa’s gateway moment
This year’s theme, “Africa’s gateway to the global cannabis economy,” reflects growing momentum across African markets as governments expand regulatory frameworks for medical cannabis and industrial hemp.
Organisers say the 2026 programme will focus on translating policy shifts into viable commercial opportunities, with more than 30 African and international speakers expected to take the stage.
“The aim is to create a space where policy meets capital, cultivation meets commerce and Africa meets the world,” organisers said.
Held alongside The Cannabis Expo, which attracts more than 25 000 visitors over three days, the summit gives delegates access to one of the region’s largest cannabis trade exhibitions, expanding networking and commercial opportunities.
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Global partnerships driving investment
The summit’s international reach is reinforced through partnerships with key global industry players, including the Global Cannabis Network Collective in the United States, Industrial Hemp International, and CannaTrade in Switzerland.
Organisers say these alliances are designed to connect African projects with international investors, operators and technical expertise, while strengthening cross-border trade opportunities.
The focus, they say, is on building structured pathways for investment and market entry as global demand for cannabis-derived products continues to grow.
A sector at a tipping point
The African cannabis and hemp industry is entering what many describe as a decisive phase, as countries across the continent advance legislation covering medical cannabis, industrial hemp and export-oriented production.
Regulatory reform, rising capital interest and expanding global demand are converging to create new opportunities for early-stage investors and local producers.
Industry stakeholders argue that platforms such as the Cheeba Summit are becoming critical spaces for aligning policy direction with commercial realities.
Education and industry development
The Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy, which presents the summit, positions itself as Africa’s leading accredited cannabis education institution.
Organisers say its involvement ensures the programme goes beyond discussion, with a focus on compliance, cultivation systems, supply chain development and practical business execution.
The academy has trained licensed cultivators and advised projects across several African markets, and says the summit reflects its broader mission to professionalise the sector.
Programme highlights
The 2026 edition will feature a full day of keynote talks and panel discussions, alongside access to The Cannabis Expo.
Delegates will also have the option of attending a pre-summit commercial cultivation training course, as well as an industry immersion day visiting SAHPRA-licensed medical cannabis farms and a cannabis club.
The event will conclude with a networking after-party for speakers, sponsors and industry leaders, alongside official accommodation partnerships in Sandton.
Among the confirmed speakers is Elder Ras Gareth Prince, veteran Rastafarian lawyer and cannabis activist, who will deliver a keynote address. Prince, chairperson of the Cannabis Development Council of South Africa, has been a central figure in landmark legal challenges that culminated in South Africa’s 2018 Constitutional Court ruling decriminalising private cannabis use and cultivation.
He is expected to share insights from more than two decades of activism and ongoing legal efforts related to cannabis rights, regulation and inclusion in the formal economy.
Also speaking is Gregg Steinberg, chief executive officer of Belushi’s Farm in the United States, a high-profile cannabis cultivation and brand operation founded by actor Jim Belushi. Steinberg is expected to share international insights into brand building, cultivation systems and market expansion.
Beau Whitney, founder and chief economist at Whitney Economics, will present data-driven analysis of global cannabis markets, regulatory impacts and investment trends, with a focus on economic modelling and sector forecasting.
From South Africa’s government, John Jeffery, project manager for the department of trade, industry and competition’s Cannabis and Hemp Master Plan, will outline policy developments and the country’s commercialisation roadmap.
Dr Siabula Sievu of Zambia will provide a regional perspective on medicinal cannabis integration into public health systems, including developments in Zambia’s regulatory and clinical frameworks.
Organisers say the line-up reflects the summit’s ambition to bridge policy, capital, cultivation and commerce across African and global markets.
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