CHIEF executive officer of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) Farrah Blake is confident that recent changes to the regulations governing Jamaica’s medicinal cannabis industry will widen access for small-scale farmers and strengthen the country’s participation in the global market.

According to Blake, the changes build on the regulatory framework established under the 2015 amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act, which created a licensing regime for medical, therapeutic, and scientific cannabis.

“To respond to evolving global trends and the need for a more inclusive and efficient regulatory environment, amendments to the previously created interim regulations became necessary. Through stakeholder discussion — meaning suggestions, criticism, problem identification — a number of changes were identified that would aim to modernise the legislative framework, streamlining processes, and introducing measures to expand participation while maintaining Jamaica’s adherence to international obligations,” said Blake at the official launch of the Medicinal Cannabis Special Permit Programmes at AC Hotel in St Andrew on Thursday.

She noted that a key feature of the amendments is the introduction of new permit categories to facilitate entry for small and traditional farmers.

Blake singled out the special community permit, which allows farmers to operate collectively and removes application fees.

“Some of the benefits include reduction in the financial barrier, it gives an opportunity to start at a small scale, and the applicants or participants will have access to our technical support team from the Cannabis Specialisation Unit. It also gives the participants access to the sale of ganja within the licensed space, and all participants do not have to be located in the immediate physical space. And, I believe, very importantly, that there are no fees to be charged for this permit,” added Blake.

She also highlighted the cultivator’s traditional special permit, which provides a transitional period for small farmers entering the regulated system.

“This permit allows small-scale farmers to enter the regulated space with a view to fully transition within two years. It allows two years to build capacity and the transition to be at least a tier-one cultivator. It also reduces the financial barriers on the participants and they will have access to our technical team, access to the sale of ganja within the licensed space, and again there is no fee to this permit,” Blake noted.

The CLA head also pointed to the introduction of identification cards — which allow an employee the ease of moving between employers within the industry without having to seek authorisation from the CLA.

She also made note of the standardisation of licence tenure to three years, provisions allowing operators to continue business during licence renewal periods, and the introduction of flexible payment options for applicants.

Additionally, the regulations include changes to operational requirements, such as uniformed fencing standards, and provisions to allow the delivery of cannabis by authorised retailers to clients and caregivers.

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Delano Seiveright, who delivered the keynote address at the event, told the Jamaica Observer that the amendments are intended to reduce barriers and broaden participation across the sector.

“Our primary focus, as it relates to these latest amendments, is to expand access. We want to see more of the micro and small farmers involved in the legitimate industry, and the challenges that we had before was that the bureaucracy was a little bit intense and the costs were considered high, with just too much administrative processes, and it frustrates people,” explained the minister.

He added that the changes are part of a wider policy direction to ensure more inclusive growth within the sector.

“What we have done is to push through amendments which are now gazetted in law, in regulation that will allow for farmers to come in through community groups, transitional permits, and special permits, and so on. They can come together as a cooperative…and they will be put in the regulated space with no fees whatsoever for that initial engagement. So, essentially, it’s about expanding access and ensuring that we have micro and small players in the industry in a more significant way,” said Seiveright.

He had earlier pointed to ongoing reform efforts as part of the Government’s plan to position Jamaica within the international cannabis industry.

“We are actively engaging with international partners to position our country as a competitive and respected player in the global cannabis market. With the right standards, quality assurance, and innovation, we can expand our reach beyond our borders and bring our products to the world stage,” declared Seiveright.