Jamaica gets Cannabis Licensing Authority

Jamaica Observer – The Jamaica Cabinet has given approval for a 16-member Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), which the Government has promised will be set up to regulate the hemp and medicinal ganja industry in Jamaica.

Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding, who made the disclosure in an interview with theJamaica Observer on Monday, said members are to be formally notified, and that the industry, investment and commerce; and science, technology and mining ministries were making arrangements for their accommodation.

“At this point, we want them to start the ball rolling [and] once they are notified a meeting should be held,” Golding said.

The authority is one of the provisions of the recently enacted Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2015 ‘Ganja Bill’, which decriminalises marijuana for medicinal, religious, and private/personal use. The CLA will have powers to make regulations for the procedures and criteria for applying for licences and permits as well as other authorisations for cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and other handling of ganja for medicinal, scientific and therapeutic purposes.

The members were selected by ministers across eight ministries, in addition to representatives from the Attorney General’s Chambers; academia; and civil society groups, inclusive of faith-based organisations.

In the meantime, the justice minister said small farmers should rest assured that they will be part of the process, as the Government fully intends for the rules regulating the sector to enable and allow participation by small farmers.

“It is expected that that intent will be borne in mind. I expect it will take a few months to develop that framework, and we are engaging a consultant to assist them (the CLA),” Golding said.

According to Golding, Jamaica is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that exist for medical marijuana, and the country has the research capacity to develop new therapies.

“We have the interest from our small farmers and business interests — locally and overseas; there is [also] the possibility of export of medicinal products made from ganja to those countries that will allow the importation of those products,” he pointed out.

The minister said while he was not claiming that the industry is a silver bullet for the country’s ills, he expects that Jamaica will, within a decade, “have a fairly substantial industry around”.

With the enactment of the Ganja Bill just under two weeks old, the justice minister said he has not yet had any reports of specific incidents of conflict between the police and citizens.