DEATH FROM ABOVE: The hidden costs of cannabis prohibition

The cultivation of cannabis is illegal in South Africa. The South African Police in the course of their duties come find large areas of under cultivation in rural areas. The policy is one of cutting down small plantations and large plantations are sprayed with Roundup from the air.

In 2001 South Africa were kind enough to spray 108 hectares in the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. (SAPS Statement) What good neighbours we are?!

In 2004 the US DEA donated a sixth Squirrel helicopter to the SAP taking the number of helicopters for spraying to 26 (SAPS Journal)


In 2005 "±170,5 hectares of cannabis fields, estimated at ± R119 300 million, were sprayed in the Eastern Cape." (SAPS Report) That would be right.. ±the area, ±the value...

"Police have destroyed dagga plantations worth almost R200-million..... In two weeks time, the dagga - grown in an area the size of 500 rugby fields - would have gone on sale.....Every year, farmers plant hundreds of hectares of cannabis, and every year police helicopters descend on the valleys to spray them with poison. Police are determined to cut the supply of the popular drug, which constitutes about 80% of all local drug-related cases. This is the third operation to take place this year (2006) - and two more are scheduled before the end of the year. In the latest mission, more than 260 hectares of dagga was sprayed and killed, and a further 4 tons of harvested cannabis was seized by ground troops." (SAP)

In the crime year 2007/8 the South African Police reported "1754,5 hectares cannabis fields sprayed in cannabis spray operations." (p.81 SAP Annual Report)

Year by year the numbers went 170 hectares, 260 hectares, 1745 hectares. Where will this stop?

The 2008/2009 SAP Annual Report states that 1275 hectares were sprayed in four operations in the year under review.

Dr Johan Minnaar of Groblerdal produced evidence of serious illnesses and disorders among his patients, where commercial farmers are spraying large amounts of agrochemicals on crops. Horrific cases include breasts on a five year old girl, teenage boys temporarily "growing breasts" during spraying seasons, miscarriages, partial facial paralysis, cancers and ear malfunctions. Milder poisoning symptoms, include asthma, sinusitis, headaches, dizziness and depression. (from Environment)

This led Professor Leslie London of the University of Cape Town to state: "premature puberty and other hormonal abnormalities are symptoms of contamination by pesticides containing endocrine disruptors. I think there is a view that if you choose to live in the country, you should accept this as a way of life."

The spokesperson in charge of these operations confirmed that the Roundup pamphlet informed him "that Roundup is as safe as table salt".