Jamaica has a very long history with the cannabis plant. Cannabis is a big part of the culture in Jamaica, is used for religious purposes throughout the country, and grows very well there.

Some of the best cannabis on the planet is cultivated in Jamaica, and the island nation is home to an emerging medical cannabis industry.

Adult-use cannabis remains illegal in Jamaica; however, a growing number of suffering patients are able to find relief through Jamaica’s medical cannabis program.

Soon, patients in Jamaica will be able to purchase cannabis in a new way that harnesses technology.

Jamaica, an island nation most consider extremely cannabis-friendly, has experienced difficulties with its legal cannabis industry. New marijuana export regulations were under consideration just as the coronavirus pandemic hit. The coronavirus has delayed those new regulations, which were due in April. This delay may have caused some investors to pull out of the market.

Throughout history, cannabis has established itself as a popular recreational tool and powerful medicine, used in these ways worldwide according to local culture. For the Rastafari, though, it’s also a part of their religious tradition. As cannabis laws are reassessed globally, the push for religious freedom has helped loosen regulation for the Caribbean communities.

Companies and entrepreneurs eager to get their eyes on Jamaica’s long-promised regulations for the commercial export of cannabis will have to wait a while longer, due to COVID-19.

Just how long is unclear. The regulations were due to be made public at the end of April, after being announced as part of a targeted support program for small and medium-sized enterprises in various industries. However, officials at Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries told Cannabis Wire that they are unable to “commit to a date” by which the document would be published, debated in Parliament, and promulgated.

Medical tourism isn’t a new concept. For quite some time people have been making journeys to other places to receive medical benefits unavailable to them in their home countries. It follows suit that cannabis, the new darling – and devil – of the medical world, would be the new fuel for the industry.

In some cases, it was the result of coming from a poor country and needing the medical technology and assistance of a well-developed one. In some cases, it was to combat the sheer cost of a medicine or medical procedure: think uninsured Americans going to Canada or Mexico to get a cancer medication that would bankrupt them in America.

Jamaica is working towards stamping out its illicit cannabis market by offering a leg up to farmers growing unlicensed cannabis. 

To help raise communities out of poverty and promote sustainable development the government is working with unlicensed farmers to help transition them into the regulated market, rather than punishing them for growing underground weed. 

Two years ago, Canadian cannabis companies were racing to scoop up international assets, from swaths of fertile land in southern Africa to cultivation licences in Jamaica and everything in between.

Now, with fears of a cash crunch looming over the industry, some of the same producers who spent tens of millions to build an international presence have started dialling back, putting projects on hold or divesting of their foreign operations altogether.

And it’s a trend that some pot analysts expect will only intensify over the next 12 months.

Jamaica's quickly expanding medicinal marijuana industry has been the source of much discourse recently.

In an opinion piece by Dr Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, carried by the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 entitled 'Medicinal Cannabis: A new horizon for small Jamaican cultivators', she details how medicinal cannabis ought to be considered a new horizon for Jamaican cultivators, and that more should be done to protect said industry from toxic overseas infiltration by means of investors with intent to exploit.

It’s a well-known fact that cannabis fans are always ready for an adventure and trying out new stuff. That’s exactly why weed destinations are one of the fastest-growing trends on Earth!

So, put your day-dreams into high gear and check this list of some of the best destinations for a cannabis holiday on the planet!

1. Colorado, USA

Colorado was the first US state to legalize the recreational use and sale of cannabis. Namely, the US represents the largest market for medicinal cannabis; seeing how the government also supports the cultivation of cannabis, it’s grown all around the state.