Regularly on the news, we tell you about big weed busts throughout the country. But at the same time, weed's non - intoxicating cousin hemp is being encouraged as legitimate agro business. That's what the Prime Minister announced in his Independence day address - and it raises the the question: could there ever be a commercial marijuana industry in Belize?
Officials at CARICOM's Agricultural planners Forum are exploring a cost benefit analysis of our options. This afternoon's meeting included a session titled "The Business of Cannabis and Implications for Caribbean Agriculture." We spoke to C.E.O. Alpuche and a Program manager from CARICOM's secretariat and they shared their views on the commercial opportunities that may one day become an option.
Cherisse Halsall:
"We are hearing about allowances for hemp cultivation in the country can you speak on that?"
Jose Alpuche, C.E.O., Ministry of Agriculture
"Yes, regulations were passed a few weeks ago there is a committee considering the applications here in Belize.the committee has so far considered three applications and we have a number of other applications I understand pending. It's an inter ministerial committee considering applications so we believe in the very near future registrations will be granted to those three applicants."
Shaun Baugh. Program Manager for Agriculture and Industry Development, CARICOM secretariat
"During the forum we're going to explore the whole business of Cannabis and hemp production and what are the implications for the region. One Cannabis is a growing industry it's the new green gold that people are talking about but as a region collectively we have to have a position. We have to be able to say to our people our member states this is how we're gonna approach it, these are the opportunities. It's not only recreational that people know about, but there is a medicinal side that is a billion dollar industry. We have to be able to take charge 
and be able to earn from that and not play catch up because as you may know our region is known for Cannabis production in the good sense as to the quality and the medicinal value that can be had from it. Now hemp on the other hand it presents an opportunity for us in a very unique way our traditional crops are experiencing some challenges now and hemp uses a lot of land, so we need to know what are the real opportunities that can be had from that and in particular the larger member states that has the landmass we talk about Suriname, We talk about Belize here, and Guyana, and Jamaica to a lesser extent. How can these member states participate in this growing and new industry?"
CARICOM had its own researchers present a paper on the implications of Cannabis production.
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