Will Guadeloupe grow medical cannabis before Creuse?

The people of Guadeloupe are on the starting blocks, while waiting for medical cannabis to get off the ground. They have selected about ten varieties of hemp, specifically suited to the tropical climate. They have chosen their business and scientific partners. All that’s missing now is the the government has given the green light for the Caribbean island to begin growing medical cannabis. This department hopes to begin implementing its initial plans starting in 2022.

«Everything is in place for us to take action. We're ready to fire, as they say in Quebec." »!” exclaims Félix-Antoine Léveillé. The president of Manitou, the Quebec-based company selected to support this project, will manufacture 2,500 m² of greenhouses for the island. They will be «weather-resistant» in the event of a tropical storm, "This Canadian business owner promises on Guadeloupe La 1ère".

This Guadeloupean cannabis product is intended—initially—for patients with sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder that can cause severe episodes (headaches, stomachaches, fever, loss of appetite, and vomiting). «The project to develop medical cannabis in Guadeloupe is aimed at exporting to North America, Europe, and France,», explains Alan Nagam, president of the Federation of Very Small Businesses (FTPE) of Guadeloupe and project leader.

1,500 jobs and… 3 billion in economic benefits?

To make its case, this employers’ association highlights the jobs at stake: 1,000 to 1,500 new positions, Alan Nagam promises. And significant economic benefits. «The medical cannabis market is worth 51 billion dollars worldwide, so if we can achieve annual growth of 2 to 3 billion euros, I think that will be good for our young people—it will provide them with jobs.», says the head of the FTPE in Guadeloupe.

Now all that remains is to wait for the government’s approval. 3,000 French patients will be treated with cannabis as part of a a trial that will begin in the coming days. This full-scale trial is expected to last two years. At the end of the project, France could pass legislation regarding the possible legalization of medical cannabis.

Guadeloupe is emerging as a serious competitor to another French department: Creuse. This region in the Massif Central has been dreaming of «green gold» for years, and is lobbying intensively among decision-makers in Paris. For now, he is It is strictly prohibited to grow cannabis in France, even for medical purposes. But when it is finally allowed, the flowers might well come from the Creuse… or from Guadeloupe.