UWI law prof: ‘Small man’ must have say in cannabis industry

Dean of the Faculty of Law at UWI, St Augustine and chairman of the Caricom marijuana commission Rose-Marie Belle Antoine says the “small man” must have a say in the emerging local cannabis industry.

She added that the industry will also be a good opportunity for the First Peoples, who are already “grounded in herbal remedies.”

She was speaking on Monday at the university’s virtual symposium Our First Peoples – Leading us Toward Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Communities.

She said although the First Peoples are known for crops such as corn, cassava, cocoa and avocado, “There may be more viable crops today.

“I point to the merging marijuana/cannabis industry. They have already decriminalised it and are about to pass legislation for an industry.

“One of the concerns in our report was to ensure the traditional farmer, the small man, should have a say in the cannabis industry have a stake in the emerging cannabis industry and be given the assistance to do so.”

She said the First Peoples need land security as it is within their rights.

“(They are) already grounded in natural herbal remedies, agriculture know-how, and a sustainable environmental philosophy.

“There are models coming up in St Vincent where 200 acres have been put aside for the farmers who are linked within the cannabis industry, in a legal frame. We should be thinking about these kinds of innovative pathways.”