Government Lobbying Support for Cannabis Industry Development

• The Government plans to lobby the support of the international community, particularly the United States, for the Jamaican cannabis industry’s development.

 

• Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says this partly stems from a reluctance by local banks to fund the industry’s growth, due to fear of international de-risking, citing this as a major impediment with serious economic implications for Jamaica.

 

• The Minister stated that the government will be using all available diplomatic resources, including our Ambassador in Washington DC, to mount a lobbying effort to the Government of the United States, primarily through its Treasury Department, to address this very important matter.

 

• Mr. Shaw noted that while de-risking mainly affects smaller developing countries, like Caribbean states, the bigger developed nations “have managed to figure out a way” around the issue.

 

(Source: JIS)