Minister of state in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Dr Norman Dunn has assured the Opposition that the Government is determined to protect Jamaican farmers willing to participate in the growth and development of the cannabis (ganja) industry for export.

Dr Dunn was responding to questions tabled by leader of Opposition business in the House of Representatives Anthony Hylton and which were followed up by Opposition Leader Mark Golding at Tuesday’s sitting of the House.

Dunn urged legislators to take note of Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ personal response in the recent budget debate about the future of the local cannabis industry following reports that industry players were upset that Canada — which allows in only six per cent of Jamaican cannabis exports duty free — could be granted permission to export much larger quantities to Jamaica.

“You would have noticed that the prime minister, in his closing of the debate, mentioned… how strongly he felt about the issue of the survival of small players in the [local] industry,” Dunn stated.

“So, the fact that the prime minister has openly said it, is a similar understanding that you have. We do appreciate the fact that it is an industry that has tremendous potential, when you actually stop using the word potential and derive the benefit from it,” Dunn said.

“We are also very cognisant, as you were then and now, that the smaller players are really the engine of this industry and we are devising several programmes, as a follow up to a programme that was done before, to ensure that the smaller farmers are in fact included,” he assured the House.

“We acknowledge that the Cannabis Licensing Authority is independent of the minister [Senator Aubyn Hill]. However, the policies that are enunciated by the Government for this particular industry must be cohesive enough, and understanding of the real needs of the persons who would have fought for this all these years,” Dunn said.