St. Vincent and the Grenadines is on a path to establish a modern medicinal cannabis industry. A trained attorney specializing in legislative drafting- Mrs. Petrona Sealey-Browne has provided support to the initial consultative process on some possibilities regarding the crafting of a homegrown piece of legislation to establish the Industry and to address ancillary matters.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has historically been regarded by some neighboring Islands as the exporter of cannabis illegally. The globally evolving medicinal cannabis industry has provided a lucrative opportunity for producers, manufacturers and exporters to re-think environmentally unsustainable methodologies and embrace practices throughout the value chain which have the potential of benefiting all stakeholders.
The issue of deforestation from cannabis mountainside cultivation has negatively impacted on downstream activities; habitats for many endemic species; and has proven to be the major cause of significant landslides along the island’s mountain ranges. Local, regional and international entrepreneurs have shown a keen interest in the establishment of investment in both production and marketing medicinal cannabis.
Saboto Caesar, the island’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour and Chair of the National Medicinal Cannabis Industry Committee highlighted that the first overall objective is the establishment of a medical industry which will explore not only extracts from cannabis but also other plants which possess medical properties. When asked what exactly the legislation will look like, Min. Caesar noted; “I do not wish at this point to preempt the legal advisors and comments which will emanate from consultations on the issue, but will note that the quest is to establish a thriving medicinal cannabis industry with equity for all stakeholders, reflecting both the social and environmental responsibility needed.”
The issue of medical cannabis has risen in importance over the last decade for discussion in the hemisphere with the United States of America and Canada blazing the trail on developing Industries in different States and Provinces. Meanwhile, recent signs of a policy shift by the new US administration may lead to a freezing of investments in an already flourishing legal cannabis industry for at least 29 US states.
It is anticipated that there will be a widespread consultation over the upcoming months on the subject matter of what will be the best platform for a medicinal cannabis industry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These discussions will address the decriminalization of the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes in exceptional circumstances.
Other issues to be addressed include the establishment of an eligibility criteria identifying the diseases and medical symptoms for which access to medicinal cannabis by a patient may be authorized by a medical doctor; the provision of the procedure for registration and regulation of medical doctors who would wish to authorize the use of medicinal cannabis in relation to their patients whose diagnosis fall within the eligibility criteria; and the prescription for the role of the medical doctor in managing the use of medical cannabis by patients.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines with the aid of local farmers and foreign investors can become the epicenter of the Caribbean’s medical cannabis industry. The Global Medical Cannabis Market is expected to reach a value of 55.8 billion US by 2025, and the Cannabis Industry as a whole is expected to outpace jobs in manufacturing by 2020. Europe is set to become the largest cannabis market in the World within the next five years with a market of over 739 million people, and a healthcare spending of € 1.49 trillion.
hi i would to know when we Dominican will stop takin JAIL FOR AHERBE THAT GOD PUT ON THIS EARTH WHEN WILL THAT STOP COULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHEN,
With the attitude of those in authority, judges, police, govt officials etc. in same Dominica is when cock have teeth, while St.Vincent and others benefit greatly from our lack of knowledge. Remember how they left us behind with the intl airport too?
Dominica will follow suit in 20+ years, and wonder why their economy is stuck in the doldrums until then. Consider how our island neighbors have restructured their economies in the last 20 years…from agriculture to SERIOUS tourism, Services, Manufacturing, and now Medical Marijuana.
Where’s Dominica…still having the 20+ year debate about the necessity of an international airport!
Considering the fact that making Marijuana illegal was done thru the efforts of one RACIST AG in the U. S who just wanted to punish and jail Mexicans and Black People who smoked it; By associating it with the raping/killing of white women, and successfully got their congress and later the world to go along with making it illegal, St.Vincent needs to just cut all that nonsense and Legalize Marijuana. It’s not like many of their youth are languishing in jail like they do their youth in Dominica.
One and only, you idiots so-called Linton supporters of Satan we in Dominica do not need Linton, but if you can tell me or mention one thing that guy Linton the loser has done for Dominica i with make a payment to your charity just name one. Just to let you know that guy Linton and his calamity party will never ever be a leading party in Dominicas affairs again don’t hold your breath or as i have said take that gorilla home with you nothing personal.
i believing this years is an excited year for the Vincentian people? i read in the news paper they going into the airline business, boeing 737, and now they talking about launching US$ Multi-Million Medicinal Cannabis Industry , very very good ideas to jump the country economy…
It still would not mean that marijuana (Cannabis) will be legalized, it will simple be use for medical purposes, with a prescription with a certain amount. It don’t mean that fellers will be smoking there splif in town and all over, or growing it in their follow pots, is not that. guys take note ok.
Excellent news. Would be terrific to integrate with wastewater treatment to take advantage of the nutrients and water from sewage. Not much research has been published on this and St. Vincent could be a leader. Been asking about this for the region and am excited to learn of this progress. Hopefully, island becomes a leader in pain management.
Well done Ralph!! CARICOM has placed on the back burner the issue of cannabis although given the mandate to lead the discussions on the matter. It is now some TWO years that our PM promised some “structured debate” on this only to be “contradicted” by his unelected AG. We will always loose out on economic opportunities since we allow some trees to prevent us seeing the forests.
ABIGAGO!
You are allowed to damage your liver over time with alcohol
You are allowed you damage you lungs or other organs with cigarettes
In Dominica you are not allow to use marijuana because it causes you to get high, but getting drunk is fine if you’re not driving….
So happy to be moving out of this s***** country …backward way of thinking..time cannot come fast enough..
@ ONE and only, in the UK if the police stop any one who been smoking cannabis and driving will most likely be end up in court and possible jail, Would you have called the UK …. country?waiting your answers….please do us a favour on your way back home take Linton and fontain with you!!!!!!
No the U.K sucks….but Canada will be legalizing it soon so I’ll be there..why should I take Linton with me? Y’all don’t realize that Dominica needs Linton! Mr.Linton and his party is the only one brave enough to tackle the red…can you imagine what will happen if Mr.Linton and the blue goes? Can you imagine? Skerrit and the his red crew will ha s zero competition and will do what they want with Dominica! Right now as Mr.Linton is here Skerrit has to be on his best behavior, one wrong move and Linton will be getting the votes…as I’ve said previously I’m waiting to here what Mr.L has to say..he’s been quiet lately but I’m waiting
Most straight thinking people will leave Dominica sooner rather than later. The only ones staying will be the majority of the red ants, Skerrit and his mob (even Skerrit only part-time), majority of the lawyers (none of them would get a job anywhere else), some expats because they are financially independent of Skerrit and some poor people because they have not got the means to leave. Then the population will be replenished by Skerrits passport customers in particular the ones with diplomatic passports. Welcome to Turkey in the Caribbean!
Is there an entity called government in Dominica?
Papa Blondie! Hmmmmmmm.
They had better get on this very quickly because Canada is light years ahead of most countries in this industry. To be successful, they will need a lot of money to get it done right. Canopy Growth Corporation, the lead in medicinal and soon to be recreational use, has been losing a lot of money trying to grow the company. They have raised a lot of money on the stock exchange, but it will take them years to start turning a profit.
Medicinal marijuana is not the same as a farmer growing a garden of weed. The standards for medicine is orders of magnitude higher and if they want to be considered as serious contenders, they need to compete with the big players.
It might seem like easy money, but it will be much more difficult than initially imagined.
Very true. But, Please understand that home grown weed will still be illegal …… Because the legal drug companies can control the market by patent rights for “medicinal weed”….. Thus making huge profits through government approved strains, etc… The small man will still feel and know that the “STRUGLE IS REAL”!!!!!!
I was watching a program earlier tonight and I saw an indoor marijuana operation where they grew, dried and processed medicinal marijuana. The workers were dressed like surgeons in a surgical ward. They wore booties on their shoes, their hair was completely covered and they all wore lab coats.
there we stay. this is one of the only help available for ALS people. Dont have to smoke coconut oil and weed made product. Stay behind still. remember coconut and pomegranate.
Govt there you are to take control same as Canada take control of alcohol.
while i am at it we had mangoes and fruits rotting never had a cannery. i love how we keep missing the boat. Now we have to go out to sea and enlist others in assisting us to get it back to port.
I MOVING TO ST VINCENT!~~ Oh praise Jesus!!!
Meanwhile here in Dominica we are still stricken by the Dread Act and all the stigma that come with Rastafari and Marijuana. We still have police who believe that is the devil that making people use marijuana. Same police that have no problem consuming bottles of rum and eating pork. Thats besides the point though. St Vincent has realized that Marijuana will save their economy. Here we act like we are scared of it. Mr. Phd. PM i am still waiting on that “structured debate/ conversation” that you promised us 2 years ago, while in the background your Attorney General most adamantly states that never in the foreseeable future will marijuana be legal or decriminalized. But then Elections are around the corner, we know that you will throw the card on the table for decriminalization or legalization just to gas us up and get us excited and leaning towards your party for votes. But i for one will not be fooled again. Clearly this administration has NO intention of such. you have had AMPLE…