Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development v Prince

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development v Prince^[1] is a decision of the Constitutional Court of South Africa delivered on 18 September 2018, which found that it is unconstitutional for the state to criminalize the possession, use or cultivation of cannabis by adults for personal consumption in private.^[2]

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others v Prince
Court	Constitutional Court of South Africa
Full case name	Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others v Prince (Clarke and Others Intervening); National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others v Rubin; National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others v Acton and Others
Decided	18 September 2018
Citation	[2018] ZACC 30
Case history
Prior actions	Prince v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, [2017] ZAWCHC 30
Appealed from	Western Cape Division of the High Court
Court membership
Judges sitting	Zondo ACJ, Cameron J, Froneman J, Jafta J, Kathree-Setiloane AJ, Kollapen AJ, Madlanga J, Mhlantla J, Theron J, Zondi AJ
Case opinions
Decision by	Zondo (unanimous)

The court gave Parliament 24 months to amend the affected legislation, but also granted interim relief which had the effect of immediately making it legal for adults to use cannabis in private, possess cannabis in private for personal use, and cultivate cannabis in a private place for personal consumption.^[3]

The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, approved in 2024, was the result from that process.^[4]

See also

• Cannabis in South Africa
• Dagga Couple
• Legalisation of cannabis / Legalization of illegal drugs
• Drug policy