Drought gives weed users massive headache in Johannesburg

The weed drought has users and dealers in Johannesburg scrambling to find it as prices double, and those who have it hoard their stash.

"It has been going on for at least a month, wherever you go you just can't find," said a user, asking to remain anonymous.

Others said they had been spending more time trying to find their drug of choice.

Dagga shortages are not that unusual for this time of year, said a drug expert, but this one appears to be worse.

"It's caused by a change in weather patterns particularly in Swaziland, with rain having a big influence on dagga," said Werner Koekemoer, an investigator at Mike Bolhuis Investigators.

He said marijuana's street value had increased by 200%.

But there appears to be another reason - police action.

Dealers and users said there have been more police crackdowns in Melville and Yeoville, suburbs known as weed hotspots.

"This year is exceptionally bad. It's rumored the police are burning bushes up in Swaziland."

Last week, police said its air wing spent over three weeks spraying dagga plantations in the Transkei's Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.

Spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said over 500ha of plantations, with a street value of billions, was destroyed.

"We are in a very bad place. We will be in trouble if this carries on until Easter," a dealer said.