Cannabis Licensing Authority issues first two licences

The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, has granted the first two licences for participation in Jamaica’s medical marijuana industry.
Licences were issued to Everything Oily Labs Limited for the processing of medical marijuana and to Epican for the cultivation of the plant at a brief ceremony held Wednesday, October 18 at the Ministry’s St Lucia Avenue offices in New Kingston.
The two entities along with the CLA also signed a tripartite agreement for the cultivation and processing of the product.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon Karl Samuda, hailed the issuing of the two licences as an historic event. Mr Samuda said that Jamaica’s medical marijuana industry was on the verge of something great and the country should act swiftly or miss the boat of opportunities.
The Minister reminded participants that Jamaica was a country of laws and, against the background of some people clamouring for speedy action, he urged the CLA to be “careful but swift” in the administration of its duties.
Chairman of the CLA, Hyacinth Lightbourne, indicated at the event that another three applicants have been approved for licences; 57 are at the conditional approval stage, and another 209 applications are being processed.
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