Science and Technology Minister Dr. Amdrew Wheatley says Jamaica must stake its claim on all local strains of marijuana for research and development.
Jamaica is reputed to have some of the best marijuana strains in the world, which include the Jamaican Lamb’s Breath (or Lamb’s Bread) and Marley’s Collie.
“It is like our birthright and we cannot allow persons from outside to come and take away our birthright. We have to position ourselves, we have to take on the mantle (and) do what we have to do… as it relates to medicinal marijuana research,” the minister said.
Memorandum of Understanding
Wheatley was addressing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Jamaican Medical Cannabis Corporation (JMCC) Limited and the National Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology (NFDST) on Monday.
Through the MOU, the Jamaica/Canada-based JMCC have committed to investment of US$2million in research and development over the next 10 years.
The NFDST will receive, manage and disburse the funds to a research consortium that will execute the undertaking.
The consortium will consist of members of the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST), which is the coordinating body, the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Caribbean Genetics and the Institute of Jamaica, among other institutions to be identified.
Entering new frontiers
Wheatley said the project will enable “Jamaica to be among the first to position itself to create, discover and enter new frontiers” to not only ensure development of a sustainable cannabis industry but also for the growth of the nation.
Meanwhile, Professor Errol Morrison, director general of the National Commission on Science and Technology, said the project titled – ‘Identification, Isolation and Conservation of Local Strains of Cannabis for Medicinal Use’ will use advanced plant bi technical, botanical and agricultural methods to identify and preserve local strains of indigenous marijuana.
“What you are about to witness is the dedication of our scientific community to eventually [map] the scientific identification of our strain. Not a look, touch, smell, feel (but) DNA science to underpin what it is that we have been making claims for centuries,” he said.
