Cabinet on Wednesday July 10th accepted the recommendation by The Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA) to grant the approval of Cannabis cultivation licenses to a number of farmers organizations here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
According to a release from the MCA – the Board approved medicinal cannabis licenses for Eight (8) local farmers’ producer’s cooperatives with an aggregated membership of over 100 traditional cultivators; Thirteen (13) traditional cultivators of cannabis who applied individually; 3. Three (3) non-traditional local farmers who will cultivate in Peter’s Hope, Rose Hall, Belle isle, Richmond, Fitz Hughes, Mt Wynne, Mt Bentick, Orange Hill, Langley Park, Gracefield (South Rivers), Byrea, Greiggs, Chapmans, Hadley’s Village and Mt Grenan.
Eight groups and cooperative receiving a cultivation license include Nyahbinghy Order of Rastafari Rastafari Farms; Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC) the SVG Rastafari Agri; – Grieggs Rastafari Progressive Society – Fancy Cooperative – Herbs R Us and South Rivers Producers’ Cooperative.
Under the chairmanship of Mr. Richard Branch, the Board of the MCA comprises of senior representatives from the following ministries and statutory bodies: the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Housing and Lands, the Ministry of Health, Invest SVG and the Bureau of Standards.
The MCA acting on the advice of the Cabinet, will subsequently announce the date for the operationalisation of the Cannabis Cultivation Amnesty Act.
Sensitization meetings will recommence July 24th 2019 to update the general public of activities taking place within the medicinal cannabis industry.
The MCA says it will continue to advocate zero tolerance to drug abuse and misuse in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
