The Cabinet subcommittee on Ganja has given drafting instructions for interim regulations for the Cannabis industry.

The instructions came this week after an exhaustive process including consultation with key stakeholders by the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA).

The Interim Regulations will govern the licensing regime for the cultivation, harvesting, processing/manufacturing, transporting and retailing of ganja.

The instruction to draft the interim regulations comes nine months after the Amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act came into effect on April 15, 2015 and less than eight months after the CLA was formed.

The impending implementation of the interim regulations will pave the way for the Authority to begin the issuance of licenses, permits and authorisations in keeping with said regulations.

Commenting on the work to create the interim regulations, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton said the ministry has been deliberate in developing a regulatory framework which is lean, evidence-based, and market-driven for the development of this important industry.

He says the ministry has done extensive consultations, learnt best practices from the experiences of different countries and taken into consideration Jamaica's unique circumstances in a bid to ensure that the interim regulations are fit-for-purpose and will encourage the growth and development of the industry.