Jamaica prepares to export its medical cannabis

Jamaica unveiled last Wednesday a new plan to revise its regulations surrounding the cultivation and processing of cannabis medical.

The new rules place particular emphasis on quality control and compliance for the medical and scientific use of cannabis. They are clearly aimed at aligning Jamaica's cannabis industry with international best practice and enhancing the attractiveness of its medical cannabis exports. The regulations are based in particular on the following guidelines ASTM International, a global standards organization.

«Although we are a local industry, we are globally focused,» said Floyd Green, Secretary of State for Industry, Trade, Agriculture and Fisheries. «We're focused on exporting our cannabis flowers and products around the world. We are acutely aware that for us to have a seamless export system, people need to be assured that the cannabis that is grown here and the products manufactured here are safe and meet the highest standards.»

The new «standards Jamaican cannabis would use four international ASTM standards covering, among other things, the analysis and handling of cannabis plants and products. These standards will coincide with three new locally-developed standards for cultivation, processing, packaging, labeling and handling.

«Such an approach is in the interest of small states like Jamaica. It allows us to have some influence on [ASTM] procedures and, by extension, on international cannabis standards,» he said. declared Machel Emmanuel, Vice-Chairman of the Technical Committee on Cannabis, and also a post-doctoral researcher on the subject of cannabis at the University of the West Indies.

Last month, responding to criticism from small farmers, Audley Shaw, Minister of Industry, Trade, Agriculture and Fisheries, introduced revisions to the cannabis industry's regulatory framework to facilitate access to the sector. A «This »special permit" should pave the way for small farmers who are currently finding it difficult to obtain a license to enter the medical cannabis industry.