The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus has become the first institution in Barbados to receive a licence for research and development (R&D) into medicinal marijuana.
The licence, granted by the
Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) on 19 January, also allows the campus to import and export cannabis products for research purposes.
The licence is the result of a longterm collaboration between the campus and the BMCLA that began in 2019 after the Government of Barbados passed the
Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill. The campus and the BMCLA signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021 with the aim of advancing cannabis research, education, and innovation.
Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences
Dr. Damian Cohall said that the campus will take an inclusive and socially accountable approach to its research, in recognition of the social inequities surrounding the use of cannabis. He also expressed confidence that the licence will lead to increased grants and commercially viable projects for the campus.
“A significant portion of this revenue will be derived from research and development activities from the cannabis value chain, that is [from] seed to sale,” Dr. Cohall said.
“It is anticipated that our research in the Faculty of Medical Sciences on cardiometabolic syndrome, diseases affecting the central nervous system [like] epilepsy, and the use of cannabinoid products to manage patients with related qualifying diseases will lead to transformative medicinal interventions against CNCDs [chronic non-communicable diseases] and neurodegenerative conditions.
“The benefits are endless as these medicinal interventions can create wealth and health opportunities impacting the quality of life of Barbadians who can benefit directly and indirectly via an upward trend in the country’s gross domestic product."
Dr. Cohall, an ethnopharmacologist, has developed a Massive Open Online Course on medicinal cannabis
. He is among a select number of academics at Cave Hill who have conducted extensive research and published papers on cannabis.
The R&D licence enables the campus to conduct experiments and testing on various forms and derivatives of cannabis, including live plants, fresh and dried plant material, seeds, oil, and wax. The campus will also be able to pursue drug discovery and pharmacological research on cannabinoid compounds, such as phytocannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and other related phytochemicals from the cannabis plant.
Pro Vice-Chancelor and Principal of the campus
Professor R. Clive Landis said the campus has all the elements required to create value from ideas by translating its research excellence into tangible value for society and the university itself through entrepreneurial activity. He noted that the campus may apply for additional licences to regulate the production and certification of cannabis products in the future.
“… we have a flourishing pharmacology programme with an in-house animal facility; we have a commercial analytical laboratory equipped with cutting-edge technology, and we have agri-industry facilities nearing completion at Dukes in St. Thomas. Most importantly, the university is operating in a conducive environment in Barbados which will support cannabis research and extension work in collaboration with the relevant government ministries and
regulatory bodies,” Landis said.
The BMCLA, which is responsible for the development and regulation of the industry, has 11 licencees with a combined 30 licences, including the campus.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the BMCLA
Shanika Roberts-Odle congratulated the campus on its achievement and encouraged all Barbadians to interact with The UWI on this front.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Nutritional Security,
Terry Bascombe commended Cave Hill for its achievement and noted that the global medicinal cannabis industry is projected to reach US$65.8 billion by 2025.
According to Bascombe, any institution that advances the collective understanding of the therapeutic uses for the plant and that designs and produces innovative cannabis products will set itself apart from the competition.
Cave Hill has joined its sister campus in Mona, Jamaica in being able to conduct such research, after legislative changes were made by the Government of Jamaica in 2015.
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