Bahamas 'misses chance' on canadian pot shortage

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Canada's recent legal marijuana shortage has been branded a "missed opportunity" for The Bahamas by a local advocacy group, which has been "unnerved" by the lack of progress.

Terry Miller, chairman of the non-profit Bahamas Cannabis Research Institute (BACARI), told Tribune Business that the situation further underscores the potential of a Bahamian marijuana industry, with legislation and regulation "critical" to the way forward.

"If we were in position we could make millions," he said. "I believe Jamaica is in contact with them [Canada] to supply. It's just another missed opportunity for us." Canada is reportedly running low on legal marijuana just weeks after sales for recreational use were authorised, with the shortage sending some frustrated consumers back to the black market.

"My concern now is the fact that the Prime Minister came home from CARICOM almost three months go and said he would appoint a task force and report in three months," Mr Miller said. "By now it should have reported, and they haven't even gotten their mandate yet. I'm feeling unnerved by what's going on and whether we are serious.

"I was hoping that by the beginning of the year we would have had that report in, and that would have gone to Parliament so that we could start discussing legislation and regulation. That's going to be the critical part. A lot of talk is going on but, at some point, we're going to come to it hopefully sooner rather than later."

Mr Miller has previously told Tribune Business the economic benefit of a Bahamian marijuana industry is potentially in the tens of millions of dollars.

Comments

ThisIsOurs says...

These people are all over the place. Just the other day they were up and down talking about medical marijuana now they're talking about missing an opportunity in the recreational market. We are going to end up with a mess. Just like gaming, we're going to end up with little children and neophytes strung out on drugs and THEN try to figure out how to fix it.

Posted 12 November 2018, 2:36 p.m. Suggest removal

thomas says...

Is this the same MIller from BASH?

Posted 12 November 2018, 2:46 p.m. Suggest removal

pablojay says...

One and the same Terry

Posted 12 November 2018, 2:59 p.m. Suggest removal

Log in to comment