HEAVY rain and drought have contributed to Jamaica’s “worst ever” marijuana shortage – with locals calling it a “national embarrassment”.
Activists say they believe the Covid-19 pandemic and a loosening of Jamaica‘s marijuana laws has led to a huge increase in local consumption.
A rise in usage during Covid-19 has led to a shortage of supply
A brokerage firm for the island nation’s small but growing legal cannabis industry says a rise in usage during lockdown has led to supplies running low.
The 2020 hurricane season and a devastating drought also caused tens of thousands of pounds in losses, according to farmers who cultivate cannabis outside the legal system – where a majority of people still buy the drug for cheap on the street.
Chief opportunity explorer at Tacaya, Triston Thompson, also said Covid rules have also stopped farmers tending crops after they were ravaged by a bad season last year.
“Last year was the worst year. We’ve never had this amount of loss,” Thompson said.
“It’s something so laughable that cannabis is short in Jamaica. It’s a cultural embarrassment.”
In Jamaica the drug has been decriminalised in small amounts – vut much of the market remains illegal.
The governments Cannabis Licensing Authority – which has authorised 29 cultivators and issued 73 licenses – said there is no shortage of marijuana in the regulated industry.
Heavy rain and drought also destroyed many illegal farms – whose crops account for the majority of cannabis sales in Jamaica
Heavy rain and drought also destroyed many illegal farms – whose crops account for the majority of cannabis sales in Jamaica
There has also been sharp decline in ganja-seeking tourists heading to the island in search of the drug
There has also been sharp decline in ganja-seeking tourists heading to the island in search of the drugCredit: AFP – Getty
But farmers and activists say weed sold via legal “herb houses” is out of reach for many – because it costs five to 10 times more than pot on the street.
This comes on top of a sharp decline in ganja-seeking tourists heading to the island in search of the drug.
Paul Burke, CEO of Jamaica’s Ganja Growers and Producers Association, said users are now not afraid of being prosecuted now the government allows possession of small amounts.
He said the stigma associated with cannabis has diminished, with more people using the drug during the Covid-19 pandemic for its alleged therapeutic and medicinal benefits.
Burke also said that some traditional small farmers have stopped growing as they can’t afford to meet requirements for the legal market.
Meanwhile, police are continuing to waste and destroy what Burke described as “good” ganja fields that are not included in the legal market.