Dear Editor,

The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) has been issuing licences since late 2017 and to date I am unaware of a clear policy on acquiring seeds to allow for those with a cultivation licence to purchase seeds legally.

In April 2015, after the amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act was gazetted, I recall being interviewed by Dr Orville Taylor on his Hotline radio show and I asked: “So I can now go out and get my five seeds and bring home to start my home garden?” The honest answer was and remains: The amendment is silent on the legality of seeds.

We, as citizens, don’t know if we can be arrested for the possession of seeds, while being in possession of two ounces of flowers, which has been decriminalised.

Here is the elephant in the system: I understand that the CLA, knowing that there are no legal seeds available, has told its licensees with cultivation licences that they should use those five legal plants households, as allowed, to propagate seeds for their commercial crop.

The one restriction on those allowed five plants is that they should not be commercialised.

We conclude from this recommendation that cannabis/ganja seeds be made legal through a ministerial order immediately. Such an action would not only suffice for licensees’ first crop to be commercially viable, but facilitate sacramental and householders legal access to seeds, and patients can get access to legal medication within the next three months. This would also facilitate householders to make informed decisions and buy specific seeds in accordance with the ailments, rather than planting indiscriminately and hoping for the best. It’s time to ease patients’ suffering.

Orville Silvera

President

Ganja Growers and Producers Association of Jamaica

kubwemoja@gmail.com