The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce is to hold a press conference this morning (March 6) to discuss the importation of cannabis.

This, after concerns were expressed by various segments of society about the move, given that the country is still working to build out its own cannabis industry.

Players in Jamaica’s cannabis industry have also expressed concern about the move.

They have called on the Government to impose an immediate temporary ban on the importation of cannabis products.

The Jamaica Licenced Cannabis Association, in a release last evening, took issue with a response from the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) which claimed that nine authorizations for export to Canada were granted to Jamaican companies.

The group said the CLA claiming to be unaware of the restrictions that Canada has placed on the commercial importation of cannabis from any State defies credibility.

Chairman of the Jamaica Licenced Cannabis Association, Hardley Lewin noted that while nine export authorizations into Canada were approved, these were related to samples of Jamaican products that were sent for testing purposes, not for sale into the Canadian market.

Mr Lewin called upon the Government to impose an immediate temporary ban on the importation of all cannabis products.