In a significant shift for St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), the government is now backing Rastafarian cannabis farmers, who are promoting the plant’s medicinal benefits after years of operating in secrecy. Golba Hill, a scenic area on the island, is home to rows of premium marijuana plants, which gleam under the Caribbean sun. Here, Bobbis Matthews, a Rastafarian cannabis farmer, tends to his crop. Not long ago, growing marijuana in a residential area like this would have been unthinkable.

Matthews reflects on the years when cannabis farming was driven underground due to strict anti-narcotics operations. “It was hard! At least three times a year, US helicopters would come and tear down the crop,” Matthews recalls. For years, farmers, including Matthews and his cousin Erasto Robertson, had to navigate the constant fear of their fields being destroyed. During this time, cannabis farmers had to forge relationships with local police, as many officers were themselves relatives of farmers.

For the Rastafarian community, however, the plant has always held deeper significance. Beyond being a source of income, marijuana is regarded as a sacred gift with medicinal properties, used to treat ailments such as asthma, epilepsy, and pain. These benefits, now being recognized globally, have long been common knowledge within the community.

In December 2018, SVG’s government decriminalized marijuana use and passed laws to establish a medical cannabis industry, marking a major step forward in the country’s cannabis landscape. The new laws included amnesty for traditional farmers and a regulatory framework for the cultivation and distribution of cannabis. Now, farmers can obtain a subsidized licence to grow marijuana, and companies must buy 10% of their plants from traditional cultivators.

The changes, Dr. Jerrol Thompson, CEO of the SVG Cannabis Authority, explains, are part of the government’s broader effort to build a thriving cannabis industry. Thompson, an infectious disease and immunology expert, sees great promise in the medical cannabis market, noting that the global industry could hit $58 billion in sales by 2028. However, challenges remain, such as the lingering stigma around cannabis and the competition from larger markets like Canada, which saw record sales of legal cannabis in 2023.

SVG’s cannabis industry also faces natural disaster threats. In 2021, a volcanic eruption devastated the island’s agriculture, burying cannabis fields in ash. “I lost my entire field. Every farmer did,” Matthews said, describing the six to eight inches of ash that covered the landscape. In addition to volcanic eruptions, farmers also faced destruction from Hurricane Beryl.

Despite these setbacks, the transition from illegal cannabis farming to a regulated industry has not been without difficulties. Farmers are struggling to replicate the income they once earned in the illegal market, and regional trade advocates, such as Saint Lucian Emanuel Alexander Ras Faii, emphasize the importance of focusing on local and regional markets first.

Dr. Thompson also believes that regional markets could offer a solution. SVG, along with Jamaica, was one of the pioneers in medicinal cannabis legalization in the Caribbean, with other islands like Barbados and Antigua following suit. However, challenges such as limited capital, small populations, and vulnerability to climate-related disasters persist.

To overcome these obstacles, Thompson highlights the importance of developing unique selling points, such as SVG’s volcanic soil, which is ideal for cultivating high-quality cannabis. He believes that with continued investment in tourism and cannabis production, SVG can carve out a reputation as a high-quality producer, boosting regional and international exports and benefiting the traditional farmers who have long been part of the island’s cannabis culture.

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