Jamaicans Are Worried Foreigners Will Take Over the Ganja Market (HBO)

Jamaicans Are Worried Foreigners Will Take Over the Ganja Market (HBO)

Until very recently, smoking weed was completely illegal in Jamaica.

But in 2015, the law changed, and individuals are now allowed to have a small amount of ganja for personal use. Medical sales are allowed, and permits for larger farming operations are also being granted – slowly.

The ganja industry will undoubtedly generate a lot of money – especially from tourists, who will be looking to partake in a bit of authentic Jamaican weed.

But this raises the question: who is going to profit from this? Jamaicans, or somebody else?

Since 2015, Jamaica has become the site of a ganja gold rush, as foreign investors pump in money and set up shop on the island. Smaller local farmers, many of whom were being harassed and punished for growing in the past, simply can’t compete.

Some locals see this as another extension of colonial inaction.

“I’m not saying all of these investors coming in are evil,” says Ras Iyah V, an activist who has been fighting for ganja legalization for years.

“I’m just saying most of these coming in are concerned with money. About making money out of an industry that our people have suffered for.”

VICE News visited Jamaica to find out what the future of ganja is on the island.

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50 Comments

  1. ror on June 19, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    Indian stuff



  2. Ed Lastimosa on June 19, 2022 at 5:30 pm

    any updates?



  3. Vicky S on June 19, 2022 at 5:30 pm

    👌



  4. indigenous life on June 19, 2022 at 5:35 pm

    The best jamaican ganja grows outdoors,in the mountains and valleys not in greenhouse.



  5. Luh Zaenab on June 19, 2022 at 5:38 pm

    Indonesia can only watch……



  6. farrgone on June 19, 2022 at 5:40 pm

    So, let me get this straight. Jamaicans has been growing ganja for centuries and they allow foreigners to come in and get licensed and rich?! FOOHWTBS…



  7. Paul Mansell on June 19, 2022 at 5:44 pm

    Nah man, it’s definitely a sell out. Generations have relied on these fields. What they gonna do when Trulileve comes through with 20 stores in each town?



  8. Marvelous1 on June 19, 2022 at 5:45 pm

    Nah fam you can keep your outdoor



  9. GanjaDaddi_ on June 19, 2022 at 5:45 pm

    Sigh. More Colonizer vibes.



  10. VICE News on June 19, 2022 at 5:46 pm

    “I’m just saying most of these coming in are concerned with money. About making money out of an industry that our people have suffered for.”
    WATCH NEXT: Hunting For A Rare Congolese Weed Strain With “The Kings of Cannabis” – http://bit.ly/2HSx4pm



  11. Owenleander Owenleander on June 19, 2022 at 5:47 pm

    I loverr ganjaaaaaaaa🥰🥰🥰🥰



  12. Question on June 19, 2022 at 5:48 pm

    To be honest we cant get mad that the white dude bring his company down there. Any black celeb from USA or Jamaica could’ve done the same thing.



  13. Imu Lippo on June 19, 2022 at 5:49 pm

    Without government, who would restrict you of voluntarily trading?



  14. Jacob Neminarz on June 19, 2022 at 5:49 pm

    De cake is mine and I want a good slice
    White pple can’t take over Africa



  15. Tracy Webb on June 19, 2022 at 5:53 pm

    Thanks for sharing



  16. Monica Movie on June 19, 2022 at 5:53 pm

    Hemp weed suck



  17. Badman No.1 on June 19, 2022 at 5:54 pm

    A Canadian gets a licence but a Jamaican doesn’t? We are still colonised my dear black brethrens.. and this time our leaders are responsible for it



  18. KEDAR. Karki Kedar karki on June 19, 2022 at 5:55 pm

    Good gp



  19. Erik Jardin on June 19, 2022 at 5:55 pm

    🤣



  20. Watt HYPE on June 19, 2022 at 5:55 pm

    5:16 CGO Chief Ganja Officer,, Ma Niig hits the Jackpot



  21. AnnieV on June 19, 2022 at 5:56 pm

    #ganja



  22. Patrick Taylor on June 19, 2022 at 5:56 pm

    The Jamaican government don’t care about poor people or regular people they only care for foreigners Especially white people



  23. Ryan Kimmel on June 19, 2022 at 5:57 pm

    Was that an off-white shoe hanging from that dude’s mirror



  24. Brill Smith on June 19, 2022 at 5:57 pm

    stop growing bush then



  25. Aerti shipper on June 19, 2022 at 5:58 pm

    paul glavine is a disgusting colonizer



  26. Bless on June 19, 2022 at 5:58 pm

    But ganga isnt from jamaica lol. Its from india. Hence, the name ganga



  27. Brill Smith on June 19, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    its my cake, i dont know how to bake but its my cake… i claim its my culture cake… even though its not.



  28. EcStasy-ආනන්දයක් on June 19, 2022 at 6:00 pm


  29. Karen Ricks on June 19, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    Its leagal to America 🇺🇸 Houston Texas



  30. VOLDEMORT Voldemort on June 19, 2022 at 6:05 pm

    Well ganja is used in hinduism since 1000 of years. So we want whole cake.



  31. Reynaldo Palad on June 19, 2022 at 6:05 pm

    Good for the health but don’t abuse it



  32. KDEN on June 19, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    6:20 his eyes man 😂



  33. Jahleel Davy on June 19, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    Hi



  34. Ted D on June 19, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    Acting like they own weed



  35. Ed` Bland on June 19, 2022 at 6:08 pm

    STOP REMOVING THIS FEDERAL AGENT.
    The TRUTH is ‘feared’ beyond comprehension.
    I have been trying to tell the world that THC has been reconnecting my ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM that is healing my 5.5 brain injury. Words means nothing so I give this;
    TRANSITIONAL METALS
    ZINC = MERCURY
    COPPER = GOLD
    NICKEL = PLATINUM
    There is a very special temper with no ‘oxygen’ at 3500F for 100 hours that TRANSITIONS. Copper melts at 1800F.
    I do this to ‘prove’ that THC has been healing my 5.5 brain injury.
    ~ ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM ~ look it up ~
    There are ‘shells’ that are around ATOMS that a special ‘boil’ shatters, creating 50 more atoms. In nature it was QUARTS that melted covering metals absorbing shattered ‘shells’ that created GARNETS / SAPPHIRES.



  36. Miguel Diaz on June 19, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    Dudes eyes are permanently glassy



  37. Bogney Man on June 19, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    Jah,say it was not to sold,or told.WEED.2022.



  38. Osama Bin laden on June 19, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    Canadians don’t get mad when foreigners come to try the worlds best weed… why Jamaican so angry



  39. Bond 007 on June 19, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    Imagine a government in a white country saying they are worried ‘…companies coming in to the country are non white company’ : he will be called a ‘racist’! …But blacks can say that!



  40. Jeffrey Wilkey on June 19, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    I just ran out of larry og he isn’t kidding it is special



  41. Brill Smith on June 19, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    if it wasnt for the British Jamicans wouldnt even know about "ganja" (from the Sanksrit word Ganjika)



  42. O’Brian Tomlinson on June 19, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    Man foreign markets been took over the weed businesses….Jamaican weed is not the best lol



  43. Tokir Khan on June 19, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    ❣❣❣



  44. Qasim gaming on June 19, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    Great



  45. Beachboy 1972 on June 19, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    Jamaica need to stop with the Babylon mindset and team with white man and get that money stop the hate life to short to hate Jamaica still in the poor zone get your money



  46. Sandi Raharja on June 19, 2022 at 6:18 pm

    bagi sbatsss aja boleh?



  47. 1234 5678 on June 19, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    Of course they’re gonna approve a white man for the license



  48. Tracy Webb on June 19, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    Great information



  49. indigenous life on June 19, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    Bun babylon system,Rastafari no need validation fi grow ganja.i n i birthright.



  50. Lucas Honeker on June 19, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    Re careta