7 News Belize

Could Hemp And Weed Be New Growth Industries?
posted (December 29, 2020)
Turning now to new industries - Minister Kareem Musa says he's been tasked to explore the opportunities for cannabis and Industrial hemp - as lucrative export industries.

Once upon a time - any talk of marijuana exportation - was the third rail of politics - but inside the United States - 16 states have legalised the use of recreational marijuana and it is a lucrative market.

Same for hemp - for which Belize now has retrained a consultant to advise the country. Here's more:

Hon. Kareem Musa, minister of New Growth Industries
"Belize as you know we have unusual laws when it comes to Cannabis. Currently the law that is in place allows you to have possession up to 10 grams of Cannabis, but where do you buy it from? You cannot grow it. You cannot purchase it legally, but you are allowed to have it and you are allowed to smoke recreationally. So what we do have in place currently is recreational use of Cannabis, but no way of purchasing it or growing it and so we as a country we have been bystanders in this industry. We have been spectators watching the world pass us by in terms of progress in the Cannabis industry. Many countries taking advantage of the opportunities arising but Belize has not. I would say up to 90% of all Cannabis that is recreational consume in Belize comes from either Mexico or the United States and so that is a lot of Belizean dollars going out to other countries that have been taking advantage of these opportunities. On the cusp of 2021 I have been tasked by the prime minister to lead the Ministry of New Growth Industries and that includes, but is not limited to hemp, industrial hemp cultivation in Belize as well as the possibility of Cannabis cultivation and manufacturing in Belize and so upon assuming this particular ministry we've been contacted at the ministry by several experts across the world including places like Jamaica, the United States and recently we were contacted and visited by Mr. Alex Levine of growth industries in the United States. He is a well establish expert and a professional and a businessman in the Cannabis industry in the United States. He operates out of Rhode Island out of California and Florida and he has agreed to offer guidance and believe it or not free of cost to the people of Belize."

Musa says there are 42 licenses for industrial hemp but zero activity in this market. He says that in the middle of January will have a virtual zoom conference with license holders etc to come up with an industry wide policy.

And, what about marijuana? That's a related discussion but much more complex. First, because it's legal to smoke, but not legal to buy, and second, because the sale of weed in Belize is currently controlled by gang - based cartels. Musa took on the issue and all those complexities:

Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries
"It is my hope that we would see the benefit of even Cannabis tourism in Belize. Just imagine for one second the amount of cruise ships whenever that does return, the cruise ships that come into our harbor it's over a million people a year. Imagine those people coming off of those ships actually engaging in Cannabis tourism. The amount of revenue that can be generated for Belize and so we have to find ways in order to make this not just a productive sector that can generate revenue for the country, but also an industry that would provide jobs for all of the people who have been affected by this Cannabis industry. In the past there are so many people that are imprisoned because of Cannabis and so we have to find ways for those particular people the most marginalize people to benefit from this industry, so leading the way forward we are going to have to be very creative, very innovative in coming up with a policy that works for Belize."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Now, I am sure you are aware of the complexity of trying to legislate the legal trafficking of marijuana, not hemp, marijuana, because right now and you know this I would say over 2 dozen people every year are killed because of these turf wars over marijuana. It's a huge market and if you introduce outside players to all these people, dors you might want to call them or man who di run weed, traffickers who have been taking all these risks for all these years and you legalize that market and you capitalize that market then certain at the top of the economic chain may have an advantage of them over ability to source financing, if you can even do that. I'm saying that you could create a situation that's even more volatile than the turf wars we are having right now. It's a curiously sensitive thing because selling marijuana in the most marginalize community is a huge market and you know how many are dying because of trying to control that turf."

Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries
"Yes, and that is exactly why I said earlier that is it absolutely imperative that whatever policy we create whether it is a cooperative of growers, of cultivators, of sellers, of distribution spots, it has to be able to include the most marginalize in our country and so that policy is essential, us carving out a place for these very players that you are discussing. It cannot be that they are sidelined."

It was a wide ranging discussion with many more layers, and those who want more, can see the entire uncut interview on our 7NEWS BELIZE facebook page.

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