KINGSTON — The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) has launched a new set of Medical Cannabis Special Permit Programmes aimed at bringing traditional ganja farmers into Jamaica’s legal cannabis industry and lowering the barriers that have long kept small growers out of the regulated space.
The programmes were unveiled Thursday (April 16) at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston and fall under newly gazetted amendments to the Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Licensing) (Interim) Regulations, 2025, recently approved by Cabinet.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Delano Seiveright, described the cannabis sector as a tool for economic empowerment, job creation, and social equity — not simply an emerging market.
“Our government is committed to building a regulatory framework that is transparent, efficient, and supportive of businesses. We aim to strike the right balance, ensuring public safety while fostering innovation and investment,” he said.
Seiveright added that the Government is in active talks with international partners to position Jamaica as a serious competitor in the global cannabis market, pointing to quality assurance and innovation as keys to taking local products overseas.
New Permits for Small and Traditional Farmers
CLA Chief Executive Officer Farrah Blake said one of the most significant changes is the introduction of a special community permit, which allows traditional and small-scale farmers to enter the industry collectively, with no application fee.
Participants will receive technical support from the CLA’s Cannabis Specialisation Unit, gain access to licensed sales channels, and are not required to be located in the same physical space to operate as a group.
A second new permit — the cultivators’ transitional special permit — gives small-scale farmers a two-year runway to formalise their operations and move up to at least Tier One cultivator status. It also carries no fee and includes access to technical support and licensed sales.
Other Key Regulatory Changes
Blake outlined several additional amendments aimed at easing business operations across the sector:
- Industry ID cards for employees, allowing workers to move between licensed operators without returning to the CLA for authorisation, and helping reduce friction with the Jamaica Constabulary Force while police records are processed.
- Standardised three-year licence tenure across all authorisation categories. Cultivation licences, previously issued for just one year, will now align with other categories — reducing renewal costs and allowing for better long-term planning.
- Uniform six-foot fence height across all three cultivator tiers, replacing the previous tier-specific requirements. The change is expected to lower start-up costs and simplify rebuilding after natural disasters.
- Full operation during licence extension periods, meaning licensees can now sell — not just harvest — while their renewals are being processed.
- Cannabis delivery by licensed retailers to their clients, expanding market access and supporting customers who cannot visit a dispensary in person.
Seiveright said the reforms open up sustainable enterprise opportunities beyond traditional industries and support emerging roles in the value chain, including cultivation specialists, trimmers, packagers, and extraction technicians.
“This Government is committed, not only to the growth of the cannabis industry but to its integrity. We will continue to enforce strong regulatory oversight to prevent misuse, protect consumers, and uphold the rule of law,” he said.
Also in attendance at the launch were Permanent Secretary Sancia Bennett Templer and Ganja Growers and Producers Association of Jamaica President Maurice Ellis.
The CLA says the changes are expected to improve ease of doing business in the sector and further strengthen Jamaica’s globally recognised cannabis brand.
