What are the Implications of Hemp Production in the Region?

Shaun Baugh

The paper presentation will also look at the implications as it relates to food security since countries may embark on converting land traditional used for food production to cultivate cannabis and hemp. Shaun Baugh says that the forum is sharing information on all aspects so that countries can decide collectively if this is the way to go.

Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager, Agriculture and Industry Development, CARICOM Secretariat

“That’s the reason why we are having the forum in the first place. You gotta look at all the avenues associated with it; you gotta have all the information provided to you. There is the human security, there is a health aspect, there is the economic aspect and there is the production aspect. And so it is to provide all of that information that allows us to do an assessment and from that, you can look at a cost/benefit analysis; then you would make that decision. It might not be one that every member state decides they’ll participate in because different realities require different solutions. So it provides the information and it is data and information that allows you to make a decision. Having done that, then you look at the legal implications; you look at the international implications. And governments will be able to look at what we have and say this is the direction that we are going. Are we going full in? Are we going partly or none at all? This is not for us.”