Dear Editor,

In 2015 the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) made a serious mistake by unsuccessfully amending the Dangerous Drugs Act to decriminalise ganja but, as they said, not make it legal.

This Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) outlook created much confusion and negativity, which forced the Ganja Growers and Producers Association, Jamaica (GGPAJ) to spend time trying to change the regulations if we were to have a successful industry and to properly include the participation of the Rastafari community, small and indigenous farmers, our herbalists and natural medicinal groups who were original users of the plant which grew to be used for health, wellness, recreational, therapeutic, and sacramental purposes.

Jamaica also produced first-class medicines which were blocked by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Against the background of numerous meetings and conferences with the Government of Jamaica and Canadian investors as well as scientists, we had limited success as Health Canada had closed the door to Jamaica as soon as the country legalised ganja.

In 2019, GGPAJ presented a plan for the success of the industry. In 2020 we said we have failed the Jamaica ganja industry. Later we argued that the industry needed to be opened up and started over for success.

The last major GGPAJ achievement was to have Minister Norman Dunn start the Cannabis Industry Development Task Force which has been silenced by more Cabinet changes and unworkable policies.

Like everyone else, the members of GGPAJ were stunned by the recent announcement of Canada sending or selling their ganja to Jamaica.

This has set off examinations of legal problems in international trade and other ganja problems between Canada and other countries.

The outburst from Jamaicans, the international ganja world, various Jamaican Parliamentarians, and ganja growers here shows the danger we now face from an extraordinary Jamaican ganja industry failure.

Attorneys have approached and advised us.

The history of the industry in Jamaica clearly shows that a totally new approach is necessary if the industry is to successfully exist.

We, therefore, call for the industry to have the most serious and necessary meeting if there is to be a ganja resurrection.

Anything else would be a waste of time.

In light of current developments, the GGPAJ will be hosting a Ganja stakeholders Zoom meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The purpose of the meeting is to address the concerns with an aim to make recommendations to the Government of Jamaica for changes to ensure equity within the cannabis sector in Jamaica.

Richard Crawford

President

Ganja Growers and Producers Association, Jamaica