BY HOWARD CAMPBELL—-
Ganja has been a buzzword in Jamaica since the Government announced plans to decriminalize the plant in early 2014. Politicians, doctors and long-time advocates have hailed steps to finally make it a legitimate income earner.
The Mystic Revealers band have thrown their hat in the ring by recently establishing the Jamaica Authentic Herb Company, a multidimensional company dedicated to promoting ganja-based products.
Julius Chin Yee, the band’s long-time manager, spoke about the company’s plans in an interview with Jamaica Observer.
“Because legal marijuana is a relatively new category, existing products rely heavily on conventional symbols, psychedelia, the leaf, and traditional modes of consumption like smoking and edibles. We wanted to move away from such stigmas and imagine how marijuana might exist 10, 20, 30 years from now,” said Chin Yee.
He noted that Jamaica Authentic Herb Company will cover a number of ventures including art, conventions, tours, farms, medicinal products and securing brand rights and intellectual property.“The main idea is to develop Jamaica’s first legal ganja company. Branding is the main idea and by developing a strong local brand, we will be able to capture the international market,” said Chin Yee.
Several respected Jamaicans and organisations including Dr Henry Lowe and the University of the West Indies have shown an interest in developing a viable Jamaican ganja industry.
Many potential investors in such an industry attended the Cannabis Cup event in Negril, Westmoreland last November.
In October 2014, the Jamaican Government made its first steps to decriminalize ganja. In April last year, legislation was passed in the Senate allowing individuals to use small amounts of ganja without being prosecuted.
Mystic Revealers are part of the Jamaican reggae fraternity which supports the decriminalization process. Recently, they released The song, Herb Must Legalize Now.
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