Saint Lucia registered a Herbal Cooperative on Saturday as part of moves to create a cannabis industry.
The new entity will be a central purchasing agency.
The cooperative’s interim President, Andre ‘Pancho’ de Caires, said that growers would have a ready market for their product.
The former Chairman of the Cannabis Movement said the herb would be laboratory tested and graded when the cooperative receives it.
After that, people could buy and retail the item.
The Saint Lucia cooperative model is different from the ones in Jamaica, Saint Vincent, or Antigua.
“We devised the idea many years ago to serve the people involved in the cannabis industry, the growers, and the guys selling for years in the illegal regime,” de Caires told St Lucia Times.
” So this is our idea. The Cannabis Movement and Rastafari came up with this idea, and the government has embraced it so much so that it is enshrined in the legislation,” de Caires noted.
The former Cannabis Movement Chairman said the legislation should be in place by June.
In addition, licensing regime will address areas including exporting, importing, manufacturing, and growing cannabis.
“Having the cooperative does not mean the industry has started. One of the most important steps is creating the licensing authority, and only then would people be able to grow cannabis legally,” de Caires told St Lucia Times.
Headline photo: Founding members of the Herbal Cooperative after its registration (L to R) Jonathan Isaac, Paul Francis, Andre ‘Pancho’ de Caires, Emmanuel Alexander, Aaron Alexander and Marcus Day.
I see that capitalism is alive and well in all areas including ganja. Those in the picture will be the big shots of the cannabis industry.
@Small Fry indeed ….and rightfully so. The Rasta that could not marry your daughter or be your son , those that were brutalized and criminalized and persecuted for decades Should be the face of this cooperative. Those such as yours truly who have paused and position themselves will also be big shots.
Small fry stop talking nonsense , just start to plant your weed to make your money to live a better quality of life
A hint of caution. There must be more education in the use of this drug. Like all others it has side effects. I perceive we will be in a very bad state in the future with alot of persons suffering from respiratory issues. The body was not made to consume smoke nor to be used as a dumping ground for any drug in excess. I’m not here to fight anyone but the future will tell. As the old saying goes if I die the ants will bring news (patios).
How do I sign up