Marijuana In Jamaica

The Jamaican economy is considered to be the 97th ranked economy in the world based on nominal GDP of $15.461 billion (as of 2018).

The economy relies heavily on the services industry, mainly related to tourism, to stimulate the economy.

Legislation passed in 2015 allows Jamaican citizens to grow up to five cannabis plants for personal use and reduced the penalties for individuals in possession of two or less ounces of the drug.

Expanding the legalization of marijuana to a more commercial setting could provide numerous benefits for the Jamaican economy.

AGRIGULTURE

Agriculture currently represents approximately 7% of the Jamaican economy.  The warm climate and rich soil make it an ideal area for farming and agriculture.

The United States represents Jamaica’s largest trading partner, making up nearly half of its exports for products such as sugar and bananas.

Numerous states in the United States have recently legalized the use of marijuana for recreation purposes and even more allow for the use of medical marijuana.  This change could provide a huge opportunity for Jamaica as an export product.

ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Jamaican government through the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries has implemented the Alternative Development Program for Jamaica.

The program was created by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime with the intention of helping to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty by providing individuals with legal alternatives to growing and selling drug-related crops.

One such initiative will be to continue to work with traditional marijuana growers and provide them with the resources and support necessary to transition them into such industries as medical marijuana.

It is estimated that the cannabis industry for Jamaica could have a $50 billion impact on the global economy in the next ten years, which would be more than triple the current GDP of the country.

In addition, the jobs created by the cannabis industry could go a long way in reducing the unemployment rate of the country, which currently hovers around 8%.

As of 2021, Jamaica currently has approximately 29 licensed cultivators and 73 retailers, processors, and transporters.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Distribution of medical marijuana could provide a significant boost to the Jamaican economy.

Growth of medical marijuana and export to Jamaica’s trading partners is likely to rapidly expand in the near future as more institutions are engaging in research using cannabis as a means to help patients.

Tourists to the country with medical marijuana permits are allowed to purchase small amounts of cannabis for their personal use.

While marijuana has been legal in Jamaica in some capacity since 2015, Jamaica still has along way to go in realizing its potential as a force in the cannabis industry.

The Alternative Development Program is still in its early stages and efforts to get traditional growers licensed to grow and sell marijuana are still being pursued.