Watching his father use cannabis to ease his pain while battling stage four lung cancer led Andile Khuzwayo back to the lecture halls — where this time his focus was on the once-forbidden plant.

The 24-year-old, who has hospitality and event management qualifications, graduated from Cheeba Academy, Africa’s first dedicated cannabis education institution, in September.

Last year more than 600 South Africans completed various courses on cannabis to position themselves in the growing industry, which President Cyril Ramaphosa in his state of the nation address said had a potential to create more than 130,000 new jobs...