Shaw endorses CLA’s commitment to continually review its operations
INDUSTRY, COMMERCE, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Audley Shaw has endorsed steps being taken by the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) to enhance its operations.
This includes the promulgation of standards from the Bureau of Standards Jamaica for labelling, packaging, and mandatory testing for the medical, therapeutic, and scientific ganja industry.
Among the considerations for improvement is the creation of a new licence to better facilitate the integration of small farmers into the licensing regime.
There is also an aggressive staff-recruitment process in progress to boost the Authority’s human resource complement. This will be completed by the end of the current financial year.
“I am happy to hear that there are certain things up for review, and, indeed, they need to be reviewed. Just because we sit down and write a law and regulations don’t mean that they are perfect ... . Things need constant review and refinement. We need to stay in contact with the global space and how they do it,” the minister said.
He was speaking during a tour of the CLA’s new location on the fourth floor of the PanJam Building in New Kingston on August 2.
Shaw also urged the CLA to be patient and understanding with entrepreneurs who are seeking to develop within the industry.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of the CLA Lincoln Allen said his agency continued to support a number of initiatives of the Government in relation to the development of the local cannabis industry, including the Alternative Development Programme (ADP).
The ADP provides an additional avenue for the inclusion of Jamaica’s traditional farmers in the burgeoning cannabis industry. This is in line with the Authority’s commitment to protect the rights of persons who have been long-standing advocates for and the pioneers in the development of the legal marijuana and hemp industries in Jamaica.