Jamaica: Kaya Becomes First Major Chain to Launch Cannabis Delivery

As of 22 May 2026, Jamaica’s Kaya group is moving into cannabis delivery, becoming one of the first licensed retailers to commercialize the off-site delivery option the Cannabis Licensing Authority opened up last month.

Kaya CEO Balram Vaswani told the Jamaica Gleaner that the new service will extend the chain’s reach beyond its four bricks-and-mortar herb houses in Kingston, Falmouth, St Ann, and Ocho Rios. “These delivery capabilities improve customer accessibility, particularly for customers with limited transportation access,” Vaswani said.

The opening came from the CLA’s Medical Cannabis Special Permit Programme, which the Authority rolled out in April under amendments to the Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Licensing) (Interim) Regulations. CLA CEO Farrah Blake confirmed at the time that authorized retailers can now deliver cannabis to clients and caregivers, alongside other reforms like three-year licence terms and worker ID cards.

Kaya’s parent company NUGL Inc reported Q1 2026 revenue of about US$852,000, up 13.4 percent year on year. The chain has been rebuilding from Hurricane Melissa, which damaged several Jamaican operations late last year, and the delivery rollout is part of the broader recovery plan.

What This Means for Travelers

For tourists, the change is practical. Until now, buying cannabis legally in Jamaica meant walking into a licensed herb house, completing the on-the-spot medical authorization (around US$10), and purchasing in person. With delivery now permitted, a visitor staying at a resort outside Kaya’s four current locations could, in theory, have product brought to them once Kaya’s logistics are live.

The 2-ounce possession threshold under the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015 still applies. Public smoking is still an offence. Hotels and villas still set their own consumption rules. Delivery widens access; it does not change what you can legally do with the cannabis once it arrives.

Kaya, the Caribbean’s first licensed cannabis dispensary chain, posted J$550 million in 2025 sales across its cannabis, food, and hospitality lines. Adding delivery is a logical extension of a model that has already proved out at retail.

What to Watch

Vaswani did not give a launch date or service-zone map. The rollout will depend on Kaya’s vehicle and staffing pipeline, and the CLA’s approval of operator-level delivery procedures. Other licensed retailers, including Epican and Island Strains, have not yet announced delivery plans publicly. Expect the first competitive moves over the summer as operators position around the high tourist season.