Jamaica is continuing to move – albeit slowly – towards establishing a thriving medicinal cannabis industry.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, says the growing global market for cannabis provides the opportunity for Jamaica to become a first-choice destination for travellers who want to use medical cannabis.

Mr. Green, who was speaking at the official opening of Apollon Formularies Limited in Westmoreland on October 25, said “the fact that Jamaica is already a world-renowned hospitality and tourism destination is a guaranteed formula for a successful cannabis industry”.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, says progress is being made in the build-out of the local medical cannabis industry, with work advanced on regulations and guidelines.

He said the ministry is in receipt of the first draft of the import/export regulations for cannabis for final review and discussion.

The regulations, upon enactment, will give the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) jurisdiction or statutory authority to handle requests for import/export of inflorescence/flower and extract/resin.

While the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana has not yet taken a definitive stance on marijuana use in The Bahamas, its recommendations will give the government options for various regulated models, according to commission co-chair Quinn McCartney.

McCartney projected The Bahamas could see some form of regulation, not dissimilar to Jamaica’s heavily regulated model, within a short period of time.

“It is something that can be implemented, once it is properly organized and the right resources are invested,” McCartney said.

“I think it’s something that could be doable in a short period of time.”

Companies vying to be the biggest cannabis producer in America or Canada are wasting their time and suffering from a crippling lack of vision. The real play is to make a bid to become the worldwide leader in global cannabis exports — like firms in Jamaica and Lesotho as well as Canada are attempting to do — and the window of time to get in is closing fast, according to one entrepreneur with clear-cut plans to curb that market.

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Cannabis tourism is thriving as more and more countries are becoming weed-friendly. Cannabis vacation is a unique travel experience to acquire cannabis for recreational purposes. Whether you are curious about the plant or seeking to indulge in some, various countries have a curated tour for you to take on. 

A Phytomedicine and Medical Cannabis Institute is to be established in Jamaica.

This forms part of the research partnership with Harvard International Phytomedicine and Medical Cannabis Institute.

Phytomedicine is a plant-based traditional medicinal practice that utilises various plant materials in preventive and therapeutic processes.

The research partnership aims to explore Jamaica's vast botanical resources and their natural medicinal properties for the development of new nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.

Jamaica is looking to gain a competitive edge in the worldwide cannabis market by partnering with the American Harvard International Phytomedicines and Medical Cannabis Institute (HIPI).

Jamaican minister Audley Shaw has announced the island’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce Agriculture and Fisheries will team with HIPI to focus on developing various initiatives intended to provide Jamaica with that competitive edge.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar is calling for Caricom and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to take a collective approach to the development of standards governing the negotiation of cannabis trade agreements for their member states.
 
In making the call at the CanEx Business Conference and Expo in Montego Bay on Thursday, Caesar said small Caribbean states should no longer be competing against each other.
 
“So many of our regional initiatives have failed because we pit one small island developing state against another and collectively, we devalue our shared value proposition, Caesar said.
 

Jamaica has something no other country in the world does – a synonymous relation with cannabis that is admired and respected. Thanks to reggae and Rasta over the past 60 years, every non-Jamaican wants to experience smoking Jamaican cannabis. This creates both an enviable aura and an amazing prospect of what is possible for Jamaica’s cannabis brand.

Here are four reasons it’s worth investing in the local industry:

ROI

Jamaica has one of the lowest cannabis production costs in the world thanks to its year-round tropical climate. Many leading cannabis producers rely on indoor grow with help of high-wattage bulbs, which means increased power consumption.