The old adage "look before you leap" seems appropriate here.
You must know the laws WITHIN the territory you are doing business BEFORE you do business. Should have known that people in Customs and Ministry of Finance would be clueless about such things!

We all know the laws but we also know that these laws are VERY rarely enforced. Unfortunately, some laws have to be ignored as they are so irrelevant in this day and age and simply soooo stupid, that to obey these laws should have you locked up for being a mindless moron. One example is the current law that makes it a crime for residents to have non-Bahamian dollars in their possession UNLESS they are on the way to a bank to deposit them. I'm sure there are many, many more as well.

... in spite of that, whenever one is investing a sizable amount of money all efforts must be taken to minimize risk. When dealing with drugs or their derivatives, get solid legal advice, until such time as the laws change or cannot be applied indiscriminately!

I realise that I probably break at least ten laws in any country I currently happen to be in or pass through before I even wake up and of which I am absolutely ignorant. Others younger than me probably break more before they are even ten years old! However when I find that I have - and it is a stupid law - I smile and look forward to having it in my repertoire of things that make my life interesting and worthwhile!

Natural health products such as CBD oil are considered micracle products and are proving they are worth their price because of the healing and pain relief they are providing. While the world moves forward and enact legislation to support the use on these products, the Bahamas ambiguous position at this stage of the game is not helpful and maybe even deadly to the people who these products can help. This is a wave that is sweeping the world so government needs to finalize its official position and local pharmaceutical companies need to just accept this new reality.

people sail into our waters all the time with apparent legal guns and licences from another jurisdiction. when they get here, it is another matter because he or she may legally be able to carry and conceal in their territory but not legally in ours. it is an offence here, so one must know the law where they are.....simple.

It blows me away that we have a full blown shop front, pedaling what is an illegal item in the Bahamas, and is now COMPLAINING about it now that they cannot supply. Don't take into account anything in your business model that is illegal. How people try to justify this 'because it's happening all around the world'...IT'S THE LAW!!

There is a chance that if marijuana, CBD products were legalised in the Bahamas, if we got into it in a big way, it might diversify the economy, provide jobs and provide a way of Bahamians to participate in the economy and grow crops for export. I know folks living below Cowpen Road who have been growing the stuff for ages and are experts at it. If they could do it legally, we all be rich!
Just read in the news (sports actually) that pro golfer Bubba Watson has been legally using CBD for years to keep up his athletic health.
Why don't the government bozos realise that cannabis is a way to creating a better life for Bahamians?

Oh, I think they realize all too well. God forbid Bahamians should find an easy way to make some money!!!!!

They would become independent of their political masters and not subservient to them!! Who needs that??? Not the politicians for sure!!!

‘Big Pharma’ in this country dont want to see their profits decreased in any way especially by a product that the FDA has not approved. The Doc's in goverment will throw their legislative support behind Big Pharma. Like the saying goes "hand go hand come".

buddy there's a hellalot better ideas then investing in something illegal, or just something in the bahamas.... and expecting any government of the bahamas to be able to change.... come on now... wait you got one of those "d" averages too right??

We could go back to shipwrecking and piracy.that would diversify the economy too.What is the big rush to legalise cannabis ?

When you have pea brain politicians and decision makers. Rather than be independent and make decisions, they wait to be dictated to or will always be the last man off the ship. In this modern age of information and technology you cannot be effective with that type of governance.

It's like if Bunker C fuel was outlawed - but regularly infecting the country, but 3 in 1 oil is outlawed! Give me a break!

Can fix pot holes, keep the power on, books and toilet paper in schools but, we gonna punish people for a product that has no THC the compound in hemp that makes you high. Glad our priorities are in order. Meanwhile them number houses paying their taxes like good business people. What a joke.

I have a Te Shirt made from Hemp fibers, I just burned it so I don't get busted!
The stupidity in this administration knows no bounds, with respect of CBD preparations for ingestion or topical use. (and damn near any other subject also)
The underlying objection may well be diminished residual revenue that Dr's receive from Big Pharma on prescriptions both new and renewed.
They could also be stalling while they apply for the license to import and distribute.
Neither would surprise me.

I think you hit the nail on the head regarding import licenses.

Really strange that they spoke with customs and finance but not the ministry of health.

For such a controversial health product, It seems almost intuitive that your first concern would be *can we get official consensus that this will not harm people*. It's clear Mr Smith is a savvy businessman but this was a strange move...the only thing I can think is there was a deliberate strategy to go around the ministry of health because they knew the answer would be no.

There are many drugs approved by the FDA that have to be pulled off the market because they prove harmful to the general population and those drugs have gone through years of research trials. Professionally and ethically Dr Sands just can't say well a bunch of people say this help them so let's make it legal