CLA to develop licensing system for small ganja farmers - Shaw

Cecelia Campbell-Livingston, Gleaner Writer

Agriculture Minister Audley Shaw says he has given instruction for the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) to put in place a licensing regime that caters specifically to small ganja farmers.

Speaking at the 66th annual Denbigh Agricultural, Industry and Food Show in Clarendon yesterday, Shaw told small farmers that they would not be left behind in the thrust to develop Jamaica's medical ganja industry.

He said he had instructed the CLA to develop a licensing system that would be less stringent in terms of the capital that investors in the fledgling medical ganja industry are required to put up in order to qualify for licences.

He said this system to be developed by the CLA would enable small farmers to apply for licences to grow and sell the weed to processors and exporters.

"We cannot allow the ganja train to leave the station without Jamaica,” the agriculture minister he told the gathering to loud cheers. “We have got to sort out the arrangements in Jamaica," he insisted.

Stressing the need to shift the focus from the negativity surrounding ganja, he said those arguing against it should instead look at the revolution that is taking place with the product.

“Some of us in Jamaica are not even aware, we not even on the cusp of the awareness of what’s happening globally with cannabis,” Shaw said as he highlighted the negative side effects of opiods – a class of pain reliever drugs that include heroin and can be obtained legally.

“Cannabis, the much maligned ganja, is seen as a miracle drug coming straight from out of the ground,” Shaw pointed out.

Pointing out that medical ganja is a growing industry globally, he said Canada has already got a foothold in the industry.

“Medical cannabis is an industry that is growing topsy turvy in Canada,” he informed sharing that two Canadian companies listed on the stock exchange with their combined value amounting to US$17 billion.

“We still have the best quality. A test that was done on oil produced in Jamaica has demonstrated a 94 percent purity level in the ganja, fi wi weed, we caan fool around anymore,” said Shaw.

He called for strong bold actions to be taken. He also had words of hope for small ganja farmers as he assured they would not be left out of the industry. He said he has already instructed the cannabis licensing authority to develop an alternative programme with the only requirement being they (small farmers) play by the rules in applying for their licenses which will enable them to plant and sell the ganja to established processors.