- SVG TO HOST CANNABLISS FESTIVAL
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Medicinal Cannabis Authority will host its inaugural Cannabliss Festival in November. The festival was officially launched on Monday at La Vue Boutique Hotel.
Chief Executive Officer of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Medical Cannabis Authority Dr. Jerrol Thompson said he is excited about the festival which will see the inclusion of the Rastafari Community and an educational process which will help to reformat people’s thinking about medicinal cannabis.
Thompson described the festival as “a serious educational event that will highlight the many benefits of medicinal cannabis.” He said there will also be a high level lecture series bringing together the best experts locally, regionally and internationally to talk on the subject of Marijuana and to correct the misinformation that surrounds the subject.
Minister of Finance Hon. Camillo Gonsalves said now the stigma related to Marijuana has been removed, people can appreciate marijuana medicinally and scientifically. Minister Gonsalves said that is a very important part of what they would be doing at the festival.
He added that the festival will celebrate the impact of Marijuana on culture and the indispensable role of the traditional cultivator in developing SVG into a world leading producer of Marijuana.
Minister Gonsalves said the festival will also advertise the excellence that SVG has achieved in its production, cultivation, dissemination and distribution in the embrace of Cannabis as a plant and as a product.
Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar said he welcomes the Cannabliss Festival and recognized the contribution of the traditional cannabis cultivators to food and nutrition security in SVG.
Caesar also recognized the work of professor David Berry and Dr. Rose-Marie Belle Antoine for the work they did in ensuring that the jurisprudencial path was established and he recognized the hard work of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to ensure that we have “the best bundles of laws anywhere in the world” as it relates to medicinal cannabis.
Caesar said they have $250,000.00 to provide direct production support to traditional cultivators and producers of cannabis who were affected by Hurricane Beryl. He noted that they are on a quest to take the Medicinal Cannabis Industry in SVG to modern levels and it is of utmost importance that they place at the center of the industry, the need for research and development.
SVG was one of the first countries in the region and in the world to have a specific and explicit legal regime around the decriminalization of Marijuana.
The Cannabliss Festival will take place from November 1-3 at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.
