Saint Vincent and the Grenadines exported its first shipment of medical cannabis after authorities in the Caribbean nation were granted a license to export the cargo to Germany, official announcements and a local official with knowledge about the transaction said, Reuters reported.
The cargo, which weighed 110 pounds (49.8 kilos), was scheduled to arrive in Germany on Wednesday after it departed the southern Caribbean nation the day prior, an anonymous official told the news outlet. The source also said the shipment was purchased from the Caribbean Cannabis Company – which markets a number of products in the country.
Over the years, the small nation has channeled resources to expand its local cannabis industry. A state agency was established in 2018 to handle licensing and also make sure local patients have access to its medical cannabis.
Prior to the shipment, St Vincent Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar said Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices had granted them the license to export the cargo to the European nation.
“St. Vincent and the Grenadines is ready for global business in the Medicinal Wellness Industry space,” Caesar said, adding that the government aims to develop different wellness products including traditional and psychedelic medicines, Reuters reported.
Caesar also revealed St. Vincent and the Grenadines was the first member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to export medical cannabis.