Jamaican officials are committed to supporting small-scale cannabis cultivation

The Jamaican Department of Industry, Investment and Commerce recently spoke out in favor of supporting small cannabis farmers. According to the Jamaica Observer, Minister of State Dr. Norman Dunn, the Alternative Development Program (ADP) is still viewed as one of the best ways to help smaller cannabis growers break into the legal industry.

“The ADP is a community-centric approach that allows participating communities to cultivate up to 10 acres of land [and] must sell all of their results from the program to a licensed downstream purchaser or authorized Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) permit holder,” Dunn said at an event on April 20. at Island Village in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

Alternatively, a transitional special permit for farmers could also help to remove access barriers for farmers. Dunn described the permit as “less rigid” and would allow growers to temporarily grow legally while raising money to submit an official license application to the CLA. The “mother farm” concept would allow small growers to work with an already licensed grower to grow cannabis and then sell it to the licensed party.

“Recently, the Department hosted a multi-stakeholder meeting within the licensed regime to consider industry-related matters and outline sustainable development of this important industry,” added Dunn. “We at the Department of Industry, Investment and Trade continue to meet and engage with stakeholders across Jamaica from diverse communities, academia, medical research, business and government at large…that will advance Jamaica’s distinctive cannabis industry.”

Other government officials such as Olivia Grange, Secretary of State for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, expressed the need to regulate and modernize the cannabis industry. With the approach mentioned by Dunn, Grange believes they can help remove the stigma on cannabis, allowing the herb “to become the foundation of a new Jamaican industry with the potential to make a big contribution to the state budget.”

According to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Trade, there are 128 small farmers who could benefit from the mother farm concept. In March, Jamaican Senator Aubyn Hill stated that the goal is to have the program begin in April this month. “When I look across Jamaica … there are people with one acre, two acres, three acres, but they don’t have the working capital. The mother farm concept allows for a large investor,” the minister explained. “So we’re finding ways to make sure we mitigate some of the problems. We are looking for very real opportunities to develop medicinal cannabis growth in Jamaica.”

The development of the ADP dates back to 2017. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, CLA Chair Hyacinth Lightbourne expressed the need to support small farmers. “If traditional farmers were excluded, one of the fundamental reasons for the development of this industry would have failed, as the program aims to provide a legal alternative for those who traditionally grow illegal crops,” Lightbourne said.

As Jamaican officials work to help small farmers, breaking news in March shows the country recently licensed a company that plans to import cannabis from Canada. The decision has raised concerns about the nature of the new license from officials such as CLA Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin. “I brought this to the attention of our members and the industry,” said Lewin. “And also to the CLA; who confirmed it. I’ve made a lot of noise about it because I’m very angry that a country that doesn’t allow Jamaican imports or Jamaican exports into its market could be allowed to export to Jamaica.”

In response, Minister Hill said the imported Canadian cannabis was not available in Jamaica. “It’s a Jamaican company… They have to comply with the law… The imported ganja strain is not available in Jamaica. Permission is granted depending on the license you have. Some people are licensed to grow, some to test, and some to sell…” Hill explained, according to Jamaica-Gleaner.