An Effective Track and Trace System is Vital for Jamaica's Emerging Legal Marijuana Industry
Last December, when visiting the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, SICPA Vice President of Business Development, Alex Spelman, discussed the importance of installing a track-and-trace system for protecting the local economy, growers, and consumers as Jamaica’s Cannabis Licensing Authority eyes country-wide regulatory solution for their emerging medical marijuana industry.
“Every government needs a track-and-trace system for cannabis products that will ensure visibility, accountability, and consistency,” said Alex Spelman. “Tracking plants throughout their journey in the market is critical to public health, ensures compliance to shrink the illegitimate market, and helps protect opportunities for small cultivators to be active in the industry.”
Based on the lessons learned from implementing SICPATRACE® in Humboldt County, California, an area that, like Jamaica, is historically known for its cannabis, Spelman made the case that a comprehensive track-and-trace system can help:
Protect Public Health – A unified track-and-trace system benefits both the regulators and the consumers. By tracking each piece of product from the moment it’s grown to the moment it’s purchased by a customer, regulators can easily ensure the product has passed the appropriate safety and analytical tests, and customers can feel confident they’re consuming a safe product that’s been verified through a standardized system.
Shrink the Illegitimate Market – By consistently tracking product throughout its journey in the market, regulators can easily authenticate that products were produced legally, identifying when illicit products have made their way into the market and ensuring that only growers that are playing by the rules and complying with regulations benefit from the sale of products.
Protect Opportunities for Local Growers – To those voicing concerns about a regulated system having a negative impact on small farmers, Alex says you need only to look at how local growers in Humboldt County, California have benefited from participating in a full track-and-trace system. In addition to creating opportunities for small cultivators, a strong regulatory framework provides local growers with proof of origin, branding their products as unique to Jamaica when they reach the broader market.
The big take way from Spelman’s visit to Jamaica? As more counties, states, and countries prepare to grapple with the emerging legal cannabis industry, implementing the right regulatory solution will be key to finding success.
Check out how local media covered SICPA’s visit to Jamaica below:
The Jamaica Gleaner
No Bypass for Small Ganja Farmers
Loop Jamaica
Technology the best tool to secure voluntary cannabis compliance
