Polynesia seeks 10 therapeutic cannabis growers

The Department of Agriculture (DAG) French Polynesia has officially launched a call for applications to select ten farmers for the pilot phase of growing medical marijuana.

The application process, which runs from March 1 through April 1, is very selective. Only two professional farmers per archipelago will be selected. Selected candidates must meet strict requirements, including:

• Hold a CAPL card, professional agricultural certification.
• Reside in French Polynesia for at least ten years.
• Being a homeowner or a renter of a 1,500-square-meter private lot.
• Being located on an island with a a DAG office and a gendarmerie brigade.

The pilot phase, which follows the legalization of medical cannabis, will make it possible to assess the feasibility of growing [...], outdoors low-THC cannabis.

As explained by Tetia Peu, agricultural engineer at the DAG, applicants must be self-sufficient: «No state-owned land, no subsidies, no payments. Any plant with a THC content exceeding 0.3 % will be destroyed without compensation ».

First plantings are expected in June

Once selected, the farmers will receive 500 seeds, provided by the government, as well as a technical assistance, sampling, and analysis. However, they will have to cover the costs of the fences and security measures as necessary, since discretion is a regulatory requirement.

The first plantings are scheduled for June 2025, a period that has raised concerns among some CBD producers. This may not be the ideal time to grow cannabis, which raises doubts about the experiment's success.

Despite these challenges, the initiative could open up new economic opportunities. While the primary goal is to explore the potential of medical cannabis, the DAG also recognizes the broader uses of the plant.

«There are many potential markets for cannabis production, whether for CBD, hemp, or food,» explains Tetia Peu.

Local farmers see this as a promising opportunity. Norma Poetai, a retired teacher and farmer, is eager to get involved: «As long as this product can help treat our sick, I’m ready to lend a hand for the well-being of our people and the next generation. I’m ready to plant it if it’s supervised.».

This one-year pilot phase aims to determine whether French Polynesia can produce medical cannabis on a sustainable basis. The project is based on the initial tests conducted by the Louis Malardé Institute, which examined the viability of low-THC cannabis in controlled environments. The focus is now on real-world conditions in the five archipelagos.

The results of this trial will determine the future regulatory framework for the industry. If successful, the French Polynesia could offer organic cannabis locally grown and intended for therapeutic use.

For now, interested farmers have until April 1 to submit their applications.