KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Ganja Growers Association Jamaica (GGPAJ) has called for a meeting the Ministry of Industry Investment & Commerce (MIIC) and several other stakeholders to discuss the issue of ganja growers their licenses, the impending and long awaited 'Transitional Permits'.

According to the association, the MIIC and the ministries of Security, Justice, Agriculture, and the Cannabis Licensing Authority, also need to address the confusion surrounding Rastafari growers and herbalists who also grow herbs and other spices for sacramental, medicinal, therapeutic, and other current and historically acclaimed uses in the industry.

“In the interim, the GGPAJ would want an amnesty on the destruction of all cultivations until the much promised and long awaited Transitional Permits are in place; and for this amnesty to continue for a minimum six month period to give such stakeholders the opportunity to apply, get approved and become a part of the regulated cannabis industry,” GGPAJ said in a statement today.

“This is against more Jamaicans using ganja treatments solutions, strengthening their immune systems and for addressing depression, anxiety and insomnia issues in a stressful CIVID-19 Pandemic environment,” it said.

“Recent activity and confusion between the industry stakeholders and the police has created unnecessary public tension, is destroying the plants and weakening the attempts at building a viable industry for the country's benefit,” the statement added.

The GGPAJ said that all the information and resources are available to have this problem cleared up immediately.