Dominica is exploring its niche in the global medical cannabis business and two leading figures in the Jamaican industry are encouraging the Caribbean island to develop practical and supportive laws and strong operating standards.

Recently, the Rastafari Inity Waitukbuli Multipurpose Cooperative Societies Limited (RIWMCOP) in collaboration with the University of the West Indies, Open Campus held a cannabis symposium themed ‘From Traditional Cultivation to the Commercialization of Cannabis’.

LeVaughn Flynn, chairman of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), and Dr Machel Emanuel, lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, were guest presenters at the event.

PROPOSED DOMINICAN LAWS MUST BE PURPOSE-BUILT

In his presentation, Flynn noted that the laws being proposed for the Dominican industry must be purpose-built and align with the country’s vision.

“The success of the industry will depend heavily on the legislations and policies the Dominican government forms,” Flynn stated.

“Those laws must be informed by the long-term vision of the industry. Do you want an industry that can contribute to GDP? Do you want to explore the cannabis nutraceutical sector? Or do you want to drive greater social equity for the traditional farmers? If those are your objectives, and they should be, then the laws being created must support these goals.”

Flynn noted that, over the past five years, the CLA has made good progress in advancing the industry, but that some of the developments take too long to materialise because of inconsistencies between the Government’s ambitions and the supporting laws.

“However, Dominica is in an advantageous position because it can now establish a clear goal that will deliver real benefits to the country, align all the participating ministries and agencies and create the policies and legislations that will deliver the desired outcomes,” Flynn advised.

In October 2020, the Dominican government passed an amendment to decriminalise the possession of 28 grams or less of cannabis and the allowance to cultivate three cannabis plants per household. Other Caribbean jurisdictions have made similar strides in decriminalising the possession of small quantities of cannabis and legalising home cultivation, including St Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda.

Emanuel noted that the Caribbean has a strong traditional cannabis farming culture which should be a main feature of the region’s industry. He said focus must be placed on incorporating the traditional farmers in the supply chain and equipping them to grow and produce at the required standards for the regulated market.

“We must train our farmers to understand Good Agriculture and Collection Practices (GACP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will provide the efficacy, quality control and confidence to trade cannabis locally, regionally and internationally,” said Emanuel, who is a Dominica native.

He added: “Public and private sector partnerships must come together to fund the infrastructure development that will be necessary from an operational standpoint. Foreign direct investment is encouraged but not at the expense of the cultural reputation of the grassroots cultivators and traders of cannabis who have been penalised and criminalised prior to the implementation of a regulatory framework surrounding trade and commerce. These traditional cultivators must be incentivised and equipped with the human competence that requires their meaningful participation for the creation of a sustainable cannabis industry.”

Among the online presenters at the symposium were Professor Rose-Marie Belle-Antoine, pro vice chancellor and principal (designate) of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, who spoke on the current legislative amendments that have taken place regionally and prospects of creating more socially equitable cannabis industries that fit our cultural norms.

Algernon Roberts, former chief executive officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Medical Cannabis Authority, presented on the current legal framework surrounding religious, medical and scientific applications of cannabis on the island state.

Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle, a traditional cannabis farmer, liaison officer with the Medical Cannabis Authority and long-time advocate for the legalisation of cannabis in St Vincent and the Grenadines, highlighted steps the government has taken to ensure the participation and economic commerce of the traditional cultivators.