Jamaicans Urged to Stay Away from Unlawful Ganja Products

The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) is appealing to Jamaicans to stay away from unlawful marijuana products.

The agency, which falls under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, was established in 2015 under the Dangerous Drug (Amendment) Act, with a specific role to establish and regulate Jamaica’s legal ganja (marijuana) and hemp industry.

In an interview with JIS News, Director on the CLA Board, Eleanor Crichton Hussey, said there has been an increased number of cannabis, cannabis-infused and cannabis-derived products of both local and overseas origin, being sold to consumers.

“Stay away from these products. They have not been tested, they are not regulated by the Bureau of Standards and this is a serious health risk for the public,” Mrs. Hussey warned.
She noted that the products are for sale around the island in the form of ganja cigarettes as well as edible items.

Mrs. Hussey added that the distribution and selling of marijuana products is deemed unlawful, and appealed to shop owners, producers and manufacturers to stop selling the illegal products.

“Please wait until proper research is done and the CLA grants permission to make and distribute marijuana products. We want to ensure that the local marijuana industry is regulated, that it has gone through all quality-control testing and research, and that the herb is being used for its medicinal and therapeutic purposes,” she added.

Mrs. Hussey explained that it is part of the agency’s mandate to protect the public from these illegal products.

She is appealing to the public to visit the CLA’s website to report all marijuana products on the market and to make formal complaints.

Mrs. Hussey noted that the process to test, register and regulate marijuana products in Jamaica has begun and that the CLA will issue licences to sell these products soon.