(Antigua Observer) After being in existence for over than two years, the Antigua and Barbuda Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA) handed over its first official cannabis production licence yesterday.
The company, GROW Antigua – a joint initiative between Itopia Life Antigua, the National Asset Management Company (NAMCO) and Rastafari Food For Life (RFFL) – was duly licensed during a ceremony at its facility in Seatons.
Present at the ceremony was Prime Minister Gaston Browne who spoke about the benefits this new venture will bring to the country, the main being the expected 10 percent contribution to the local economy once the industry is up and running.
Browne also added that it was a “proud occasion for him personally” as he has witnessed the Rastafarian community being castigated, for more than 50 years, over the use of cannabis.
This venture, he said, will now aid in unifying the Rastafarian community with the general public after years of discrimination.