The University of the West Indies, Mona

Fifty-three percent of cannabis enthusiasts want Jamaica to fully legalize cannabis while 27 percent want Jamaica to legalize but with strict controls. Only 18 percent are content with the current state of decriminalization and two percent want the laws to be reverted to where they were prior to 2015.

A data- and research-driven approach is necessary for the cannabis industry to transition, integrate and grow to provide economic benefits for its participants. As we anticipate the Canex Conference on Cannabis to be held in Montego Bay between September 27 and 29 this year, here are some useful statistics to help us understand cannabis cultivation and consumption patterns across Jamaica.

How Do Jamaicans Propagate And Grow Cannabis?

Traditionally, ganja is grown outdoor in Jamaica so that the plant can benefit from the sunlight. Our research shows that 77 percent of farmers grow in the open field outdoors, 17 percent grow indoors, while six percent grow in greenhouses.

Seventy-two percent of farmers grow from seeds only, six percent growth from clones only while two percent grow from both seeds and clone. It appears that indoor and greenhouse growers grow mainly from clones, while outdoor farmers grow from seeds.

Who Produces Cannabis?

Our data shows that approximately 21 percent of total farmers across the island are women while about 79 percent are men.

How Old Are These Cannabis Farmers?

Unlike regular agriculture that fails to attract large numbers of young people, cannabis cultivation appears to be quite attractive to young people given its high return per crop yield compared to other agricultural commodities. Eleven percent of ganja farmers are between the ages of 18 and 25 while 26 percent of farmers are between the ages of 26 and 33. Another 26 percent of ganja farmers are between the ages of 34 and 41 while 38 percent of marijuana farmers are 42 years and older.

How Many Years Have You Been Cultivating Cannabis?

It is crucial to understand the dynamics of ganja farmers. Forty-nine percent of marijuana farmers have started growing cannabis in the last 10 years since the buzz about legitimizing the industry began. Fifteen percent of farmers have been cultivating the weed between 10 and 19 years; 17 percent of farmers for more than 20 years but less than 29 years, while the remaining 19 percent have more than 30 years of experience in cultivating cannabis.

Where Is Cannabis Grown Vs Where It Is Consumed?

Although more cannabis is cultivated in rural areas, consumption appears to be fairly even between rural and urban spaces. Seventy-four percent of farmers are located in the rural areas of Jamaica, while 26 percent are located in urban areas. As it relates to consumption, 50.8 percent of consumers live in urban areas while 49.2 percent live in rural areas.

For What Purpose Is Cannabis Consumed In Jamaica?

Twenty percent of Jamaican cannabis enthusiasts use it for medical purposes only, seven percent use the herb as a sacrament only, and seven percent use the ganja for recreational purposes only. Ten percent use the herb for medical and recreational purposes combined, two percent use the herb for recreational and sacramental purposes, while 51 percent use cannabis for all three purposes, medical, recreational and sacramental at the same time.

The survey instrument was prepared by Scarce Commodity Plant Consulting and administered by the Social Science Cannabis Research Group and Life Science Cannabis Research Group at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

Data collected using survey instruments and semi-structured interviews between March 2017 and March 2018 at major cannabis events across Jamaica including, but not limited to The Stepping High Festival, Rasta Roots Fest, the Launch of the Ganja Growers and Producers Association, The Jamaica 4/20 Scarce Festival, Innocent Plant Symposium, and Cannabis Cup.

For further information log on to www.scarcecommodityja.com.