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.