Caribbean cannabis regulators say the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) could hold the key to breaking the patchwork of island laws and building a harmonised framework that supports trade, testing, and inclusion across the region.
While individual islands have rolled out their own systems — from Jamaica’s decade-old authority to Saint Lucia’s pending legislation — the regional regulators, at the 2nd Cannabliss cannabis conference held in St Vincent and the Grenadines, agreed that the region will struggle to compete globally without alignment.
Saint Lucia’s cannabis regulator Dylan Norbert-Inglis put it plainly: “These steps really are the precursor to having such harmonised stances.”
A harmonised framework would allow Caribbean states to share testing facilities, smooth trade across borders, and ensure that traditional farmers and small cultivators can participate no matter where they live. Regulators said current laws are too fragmented, making it difficult to attract investment or build regional supply chains.
Norbert-Inglis, whose Regulated Substances Authority is overseeing Saint Lucia’s new cannabis regime, said collaboration has already started through the Caribbean Cannabis Forum, where authorities exchange notes on everything from pesticides to sacramental use.
“Less than two years ago, we never knew each other… Now we have the Caribbean Cannabis Forum where we all work together to ensure we help one another,” he told the audience.
Barbados’ acting Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) CEO Shanika Roberts-Odle said her country’s cautious approach reflects social realities. But even so, Roberts-Odle said harmonisation could help address the barriers that frustrate small players, such as high fees and security requirements.
“The current state of our legislation does not allow for us to just give a license… Cabinet-level changes are required,” she said. A regional approach, she suggested, could open doors for farmers who cannot yet meet local requirements.
Jamaica, which pioneered cannabis reform in 2015, offers another case.
Cannabis Licensing Authority CEO Farrah Blake admitted the island’s licensing process was once notorious for delays. But by embedding its Alternative Development programme for traditional farmers directly into regulations, Jamaica hopes to make inclusion permanent — a model other islands could adopt through OECS channels.
Beyond licensing, regulators stressed that harmonisation is essential for testing and export. Antigua’s Regis Burton warned that without common benchmarks, products cannot easily move from one island to another.
St Vincent officials pointed to their investment in a modern laboratory that screens for pesticides, heavy metals, and terpenes. But one island’s lab cannot serve the region alone. An OECS-led network could make those services accessible to smaller states.
Rastafari representatives pressed regulators not to lose sight of social justice.
Emmanuel Alexander, of the Caribbean Cooperative Working Group, said: “We must have some regional conclusion… This is not a race. Regional conclusion in terms of this industry — we will do it together.”
Another warned: “Don’t just settle for the free license… You’re fighting for something bigger.”
From financing to farmer inclusion, the message was clear: OECS coordination could give the region the scale and coherence it needs. As Norbert-Inglis summed up: “With these periods of positive action, we do see in the future that there will be some harmonisation.” – Tracy Moore
