CLA celebrates issuance of Jamaica’s 50th marijuana licence
The Cannabis Licencing Authority (CLA)
issued its 50th licence to Montego Bay-based Outlier Bio-Pharma Limited on Wednesday,
December 4.
Celebrated at the CLA’s headquarters on Knutsford
Boulevard in New Kingston, Chief Executive Officer Lincoln Allen said that the
ceremony marks a significant milestone in the agency’s and Jamaica’s journey by
extension.
“Our journey continues. The CLA is very
much on the ganja train, we are committed to the process and this 50th license
is symbolic,” Allen indicated.
Since its establishment in June 2016, Allen
further explained that the CLA has issued 359 conditional approvals and over 440
jobs have been directly created in Jamaica’s growing cannabis industry.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture and
Industry, Audley Shaw noted that CLA’s growing applicant pool is testament to
the industry’s appeal and profitability.
“The industry is moving fast, globally, and
even as we celebrate this 50th licence, it’s not a licence for us to slow down.
It’s an opportunity to speed up and that we must do. We have to step up our
game and be ready,”
“The good news, beyond these licences that
are being issued, is the interest [in Jamaican marijuana] continues to be vibrant.
For too many years, we have not taken advantage of our unique status,”
Minister Shaw assured that the Government
of Jamaica is committed to include as many small farmers as well as the large
companies.
“Small farmers must step up to the [plate],
get regulated and produce under acceptable standards. I want the small farmers
to understand we’re not leaving them out. The Government is very concerned that
we have an accommodative programme to involve [them],”
“In exchange for that I’m asking the small
farmers to get on board, follow the rules, that we can be truly international
and maximise the benefits for Jamaica,”
In accepting the licence, Director of
Outlier Bio-Pharma Brian Thelwell, said his dream has come through and now the
hard work and truly begin.
“When we started Outlier Bio-Pharma, we had
a dream of being one of the leading cannabis companies in Jamaica and with
time, to be a model company, globally. Today represents the first stone being
laid to pave the way,”
