2 SWAZI FACTORIES PROCESS DAGGA HEALTH PRODUCTS

Capsules processed in Swaziland using Swazi dagga but branded in South Africa.

MBABANE – Hidden in one of Swaziland’s thick forests, this publication has uncovered two factories that manufacture dagga products, including cancer medication.

Medicinal products being processed in the country from readily available dagga are finding their way to European markets but yet Swaziland is not benefitting.
It has been argued that dagga is the one source of income that can generate the much needed revenue for the country, however, since it remains illegal to possess, sell, transport and cultivate, Swaziland is losing out in generating billions of Emalangeni.
This publication has uncovered that the two Swaziland-based establishments are processing the dagga to extract the much-needed oils.

The oils are used to manufacture drugs and creams which can be used to treat various forms of cancer including that of the cervix known as cervical cancer. Cervical cancer kills most women among all the cancers in the country. Through an investigation, reporters from this publication met with *Miles who is one of the producers of the drugs. His identity will not be revealed because the possession of dagga is currently illegal in Swaziland under the Pharmacy Act as well as Opium and Habit Forming Drugs Act.

The location of the processing centres will also not be revealed as it is illegal.
In fact, their locations are so secret that even some nearby residents have no idea what exactly gets processed there. The process begins with growers delivering the dagga, including some leaves also known as the trim. Several people queue to deliver the dagga depending on the quantity required but no one is allowed to go into the processing centre for security reasons.

This also gives some of the residents an opportunity to earn as much as E200 or more per day.
The process continues whereby a mixture of the dagga, as well as other substances and ethanol, are treated in a process similar to boiling.
This is then distilled to extract the much-needed oil.

Locally grown dagga, also known as ‘the real Swazi Gold’, is preferred due to its high TCH (Tetraydrocabinol) content.
THC is also the compound which gives dagga its ‘feel good effect’ for smokers or recreational users.
This compound is crucial in producing the oils as the more the THC, the higher the yield of the oil.

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