With this approval, St Vincent becomes the first member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to be granted permission to export its marijuana product for medicinal purposes.

The Vincentian government announced that the country would export its first shipment of medicinal cannabis to Europe. This became possible after the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices in Germany issued an export certificate for marijuana products to legally enter that country.

The certificate was granted to St Vincent’s Caribbean Cannabis Company trading under the name, Medicinal.

The company already has several products marketed locally and has worked with traditional cultivators in building out their supply chain.

Other OECS members states invited to participate

According to St Vincent’s Agriculture Minister, Saboto Caesar, the jurisdiction has worked over the last three years with international agencies, friendly governments, and local public and private sector stakeholders, to make this a reality.

“St Vincent and the Grenadines is ready for global business in the Medicinal Wellness Industry Space. We invite the world to participate! SVG has opened a significant global opportunity for collaboration among member states of the OECS wishing to participate in the international medical cannabis industry,” Caesar said.

“I, therefore, invite all member states of the OECS with the established medicinal cannabis policy frameworks to join forces for the sustainable development of what can become a world competitive sub-regional medicinal wellness ecosystem,” the agriculture minister added.

The Vincentian government has also announced that it is also working to establish a diversified medicinal wellness platform that will include traditional medicines, and the emerging psychedelics doctor-assisted treatment initiative.

Over in the BVI, Premier Andrew Fahie said in his budget address last month that he was optimistic the BVI would be able to receive the governor’s assent for its cannabis legislation which has passed through the House of Assembly (HOA) months ago.

The BVI’s immediate past governor, Augustus Jaspert, declined to offer assent to the Act in 2020. He cited concerns about the absence of a marijuana licensing body. Jaspert then passed the bill to the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).

At the time, Fahie complained that the governor should have objected to the bill before it was passed. He further said that much work had been done to put the legislation together.

He noted that legal and regulated marijuana industries have already been proven to have provided economic benefits and stimulation to several jurisdictions. The Premier also stated that the global medical marijuana industry is projected to grow from its current value of $9.2 billion to $57 billion by 2027.