Cannabis is not legal in Jamaica even though natives can carry around small amounts of the drug without criminalisation, thanks to a law passed in 2014.
Currently, the country is considering the facilitation of a local medical cannabis industry. The announcement was made at the Jamaican Medical Cannabis Integration Symposium (JAMECANN) at the University of Technology in Papine.
According to news sites, the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Audley Shaw indicated that Jamaica should not miss the medical cannabis boat and his ministry will provide the resources to see a successful industry.
Minister Audley Shaw and Cannabis Licensing Authority CEO, Lincoln Allen
“So, it is in that role that I look forward to working with you and others, including our international partners, to make Jamaica the best of the best in the world. Jamaica is building a medical cannabis industry as the rest of the world is doing,” he said.
His sentiments were shared by the Chief Executive Officer of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), Lincoln Allen, who said that research has indicated that Jamaica has a great potential for a medical cannabis business.
“It is through research, often pioneered by academia, and through the hosting of symposia and the inclusion of various working groups such as these (JAMECANN) that has helped to broaden the scope of understanding, learning, knowledge transfer as well as innovation, which this industry currently needs in order to be viable and sustainable,” he said.
