Cannabis growers call for help to meet export standards

by Christina Smith

Financial gains for traditional cannabis cultivators in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have not been as fruitful as desired, with huge hurdles preventing them from accessing international markets.

The Medicinal Cannabis Industry was formally established through an act of Parliament with the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA) set up as the regulatory body.

Part of the legislation also included an amnesty for traditional cultivators, allowing this group a legal status to operate in the industry.

“In terms of making money within the framework of the law I don’t know of any traditional growers who have that in any significant way,” Head of the Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC), Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle, told SEARCHLIGHT in an interview.

Cottle explained that the standards set by the international market for the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes has strict guidelines which fall under the SGS (Good Agricultural Practices) GAP Cannabis Certification. He said traditional cultivators do not have the resources to meet the harvesting, storage and health and safety requirements.

“In order to meet the standard you have to be trained…have to [have] certain facilities in place and traditional cultivators don’t have the capacity by themselves to do that. We are still a far way behind.

“We have the knowledge of the environment but the science that goes with the production is where we are lacking.”

Cottle said there is great potential for the medicinal cannabis industry to be financially beneficial for traditional cultivators but with support and partnership of the relevant stakeholders.

“We have to incorporate the traditional with the scientific methods and then we can produce the best possible cannabis anywhere in the world,” he declared.

During a December 13 sitting in the House of Assembly, Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar disclosed figures on the export and domestic sales for medicinal cannabis which amounted to EC$70,000 and EC$250,000 respectively, with the domestic market comprising five local vendors.

Cottle said there are some traditional cultivators who have formed partnerships with local vendors for cannabis production, however he does not believe they have a significant foothold in this market.

“To what extent those [traditional cultivators ]cannabis have been in the market, I am unable to say. I doubt in any significant amount.”

Chief Executive Officer of the MCA, Dr. Jerrol Thompson acknowledged the issues affecting the traditional cultivators. He revealed that a pilot project, which was delayed as a result of the eruption of La Soufriere, will commence in early 2023. The project will see 100 acres of land being distributed to 47 traditional cultivators in the area called Top Hill beyond Richmond in North Leeward. He went on to say that the cultivators will be supplied with equipment, bathroom facilities and tools with the goal of allowing them to “improve their game”.

“We’re providing them with WiFi… fertilizers, and other important inputs and most specifically, guidance on new techniques to complement their own experience. We will also do this in other parts of the country and the concept is that a traditional cultivator will have a fair stake.”

Dr.Thompson also said that the MCA has the expertise to assist the cultivators with auditing agricultural practices to ensure they meet SGS GAP Certification.

“While our strain is excellent, we do not have the level of potency that the market requires.”

Dr. Thompson added that he hopes to see the industry spread its wings and focus on exporting to regional and European markets. However, he noted that a vote in 2020 by the United Nations Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND) which stated that the use for non-medical and non-scientific purposes of cannabis will continue to remain illegal- hinders the growth of the industry.

“St. Vincent and the Grenadines is looking to peg itself as a high quality, low cost, experienced nation. We have experienced traditional cultivators, we have some solid investment companies, right. Who are the ones who will have funding and the money out there?

“ Sadly, the MCA as a regulator is not able to go out and market [the product] but we are able to create with our international contacts and report…that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines has all the various structures in place.”