Jamaica: Ganja Growers Eye Opportunities After US Cannabis Rescheduling

As of 28 April 2026, the US Department of Justice’s reclassification of state-licensed medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III is officially in effect. Jamaica’s cannabis sector is paying close attention.

Maurice Ellis, vice president of the Ganja Growers Association of Jamaica, told the Jamaica Gleaner that Schedule III status “reduces research barriers, improves access to banking, and legitimises cannabis as a medical commodity.” But he cautioned that the shift cuts both ways: US operators will now have greater access to capital and tax relief under the removal of Section 280E restrictions, creating competitive pressure for small Jamaican growers “not currently structured to compete” at that level.

Minister of State Delano Seiveright struck a more confident tone, pointing to Jamaica’s recent regulatory reforms, including longer licence periods and expanded access through the CLA’s special permit programmes, as evidence the island is positioning itself for this moment. Jamaica completed four exports of value-added cannabis products in 2025, its first, and the CLA has put interim administrative procedures in place for further shipments.

The timing matters for the broader Caribbean. Barbados’s BMCLA is already using the rescheduling to press banks on industry access, and producers in Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have signalled interest in developing export pipelines to the US.

What This Means

For travelers, the US rescheduling doesn’t change what you can or cannot carry across borders. Cannabis remains federally controlled, and bringing it onto a plane or cruise ship is still illegal. What it does change is the business environment behind the scenes. Jamaican herb houses and dispensaries are likely to see more investment, better product consistency, and new value-added offerings as the export market develops. If you’re flying into Montego Bay or Kingston, expect a slowly maturing retail experience at licensed locations, driven by an industry that now has a clearer path to international trade.