Antigua and Barbuda has granted the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus a formal licence to conduct cannabis research, a move Cabinet says will help build a scientifically guided and commercially viable industry.
The decision was announced Friday by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during the post-Cabinet media briefing.
Merchant said the licence allows UWI St. Augustine to undertake research, testing and product development that will support Antigua and Barbuda’s regulated cannabis industry.
The authorization enables the university to participate directly in scientific work that Cabinet views as essential for strengthening national capacity and advancing innovation in the sector.
According to the briefing, the decision follows a presentation to Cabinet by Professor Rosemary Bell-Antoine, Principal of UWI St. Augustine, who outlined the campus’s long-standing expertise in agricultural science, crop research and biochemistry.
Cabinet members were told that the partnership can enhance economic diversification, modernize local agriculture and position Antigua and Barbuda within the expanding global cannabis economy.
Officials also noted that the campus’s agricultural strengths — including its internationally recognized Cocoa Research Centre — could support the country’s broader crop-development agenda.
Cabinet discussed potential future opportunities in areas such as cocoa cultivation and the Ministry of Agriculture’s forthcoming mushroom-production programme, which the government intends to scale in the coming year. While no land has yet been identified for cocoa expansion, officials said the sector carries strong international potential.
Merchant said the cannabis research licence marks the government’s intent to finalize a formal cooperation agreement with UWI that will define the industry’s structure and long-term development framework. T
he collaboration is expected to support scientific regulation, improved product standards, and new opportunities for farmers and processors seeking to enter the evolving industry.
The initiative forms part of a wider set of agricultural reforms that Minister of Agriculture Anthony Smith is expected to detail during the upcoming budget debate, where the government plans to outline expanded support for farmers, small-crop producers and value-added industries.
