The third and final day of Cannabliss SVG 2025 in St Vincent and the Grenadines turned theory into practice. As the conference took to the road, regional cannabis regulators joined traditional cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers on a cross-country tour — seeing firsthand how the host nation has built a functioning ecosystem around medicinal cannabis. From greenhouses and processing labs to retail outlets serving both local and international clients, the tour offered a tangible picture of what a maturing industry can look like.
Against this backdrop, CEOs from Jamaica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda reflected on lessons they plan to adapt at home. Though each market differs in size and structure, the message was consistent: the Caribbean’s cannabis future depends on collaboration, flexible regulation, high standards, and the inclusion of traditional cultivators.
Saint Lucia: Preparing for the road ahead
For Dylan Norbert-Inglis, CEO of the Regulated Substances Authority of Saint Lucia, the tour provided a glimpse of what seven years of industry development looks like and what lessons can guide Saint Lucia before its own sector takes off.
“As the industry continues to grow, we return to see what takeaways are possible: how the traditional cultivators have been experiencing the changes in the industry, and what we can put in place at an early stage to ensure that we act as is best suited for the traditional market and the traditional players,” Norbert-Inglis said.
He noted that Saint Lucia is studying both achievements and pitfalls.
“We’re looking at what has happened with the bigger players that have come in – the investors who may or may not have stayed in the space,” he explained. “Why would they have left? Why have some stayed? What they continue to do well, and what they are not doing well. All of that gives us a map for our own implementation.”
For him, Cannabliss Festival 2025 underscored the importance of foresight: “We want to understand what our trajectory may look like seven years on, how we can safeguard ourselves from some mistakes, and how we can prepare for the challenges ahead.”
Barbados: Standards, wellness, and new frontiers
Shanika Roberts-Odle, acting CEO of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority, said the day 3 tour demonstrated how St Vincent is broadening its approach beyond cultivation to include wellness, tourism, and product innovation.
“For the second year, we’ve seen the strong support from what you consider to be the ministerial directive in terms of pursuing this industry. That’s always great to see and to know that it exists,” she said.
She highlighted medicinal chocolate products as an example of how wellness and medical dosing can intersect: “You can see that there’s a move towards expanding the context of wellness. They’ve been able to produce a chocolate that allows persons to be dosed from a medical standpoint – that was really good to see.”
She said the trip reaffirmed Barbados’ focus on rigorous standards and cultural fit.
“From a Barbadian standpoint, I like the emphasis on standards,” Roberts-Odle said. “We’re always looking to improve where we are but ensuring that whatever we do fits the Barbadian context is what’s really important.”
The discussions on psychedelics also caught her attention: “I love the move towards including the concept of psychedelics,” she said. “It’s an interesting aspect that we need to explore carefully when we talk about expanding our nation’s approach to wellness.”
Roberts-Odle said innovation must always be matched with accountability.
“We cannot continue to let fear or caution stop us from pursuing what’s important,” she said. “At the same time, we must work with partners like the NCSA towards expanding the concept, acknowledging the good, and perhaps trying to open awareness to where, yes, it may be good for you to use, but context and manner is important.”
Antigua and Barbuda: A call for regional trade
Regis Burton, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Medicinal Cannabis Authority, said the experience reinforced his view that Caribbean territories must build bridges, not silos, if they are to compete globally.
“It’s a great opportunity to be here again and see the growth of the industry,” he said. “You’re getting to see the success that’s now happening for the companies and for the country.”
Burton believes the next step is regional cooperation: “What I think can happen coming out of this festival is more collaborations across the Caribbean islands. Now is the chance to strengthen our relationships, start to get trade happening within our region, and then we can focus on the international and external market.”
He also observed that varying regulatory styles can either encourage or restrict growth.
“Sometimes our regulations in one jurisdiction may be more stringent, whereas here you see more flexibility and experience in what they’re doing,” Burton explained. “We have to ensure that our laws don’t strangle businesses.” Balanced policies, he added, are key to building investor confidence.
“We want to be flexible. We want to create opportunity for investment and add value to the licenses. It’s about creating a climate that’s both compliant and commercially viable.”
Jamaica: Banking, doctors, and deeper connections
For Farah Blake, CEO of Jamaica’s Cannabis Licensing Authority, the tour revealed how St Vincent’s ecosystem is rooted in partnerships that bridge health, finance, and enterprise.
“One of the things I’ve noticed with St Vincent is their very deep relationship with medical doctors,” Blake said. “That is a part of our stakeholder group that we need to tap into a little bit more in Jamaica.”
She was also intrigued by how St Vincent handles one of the toughest challenges in the region which is the banking access: “We’ve been very impressed with their alternative banking systems. That’s something we’ll be looking at more closely to support our licensees and make financial access easier.”
For Blake, the success of St Vincent’s model lies in its collaborative spirit.
“They’ve built real synergy between government, doctors, and cultivators,” she said. “That’s the type of collaboration that can make the Caribbean cannabis space stronger as a whole.”
A shared regional vision emerging
As the St Vincent and Grenadines’ Cannabliss SVG 2025 drew to a close, the message from the region’s regulators is clear – the Caribbean’s cannabis industry is calling for a turning point. From Saint Lucia’s methodical preparation to Antigua’s call for regional trade, Jamaica’s focus on integration, and Barbados’ innovation in wellness, a shared commitment to collaboration, learning, and cultural integrity emerged. Or as Saint Lucia’s Norbert-Inglis said: “We’re not just studying what others have done. We’re learning how to build an industry that reflects who we are as Caribbean people – one that’s sustainable, responsible, and uniquely ours.”
