Program for Traditional Cannabis Cultivators to Start

BASSETERRE – The St. Kitts and Nevis Medicinal Cannabis Authority (SKNMCA) has officially opened registration for the inaugural Traditional Cultivator Programme (TCP) Orientation, inviting residents of the Federation to take the first formal step toward participating in the regulated medicinal cannabis industry.

Branded under the theme “From Tradition, to Opportunity,” the initiative is being positioned by the Authority as a bridge between St. Kitts and Nevis’ long history of informal cannabis cultivation and the licensed, commercial industry envisioned under the country’s cannabis legislation.

According to the SKNMCA, the TCP Orientation will run for three days of education, training, and hands-on learning, designed to prepare participants for success in the regulated medicinal cannabis sector.

Key details:

• Training Dates: August 20–22, 2026
• Venue: Department of Agriculture Conference Room, La Guerite, St. Kitts
• Programme Fee: EC$200
• How to Register: Apply in person at the SKNMCA Office or via the online link provided by the Authority

The Authority is describing the orientation as a pivotal moment for local agriculture, with organizers quoted as calling it “three days that could change the future of agriculture in St. Kitts & Nevis.”

The SKNMCA has also revealed that the orientation will be led by international cannabis educator Dr. Machel Emanuel, a Senior Lecturer/Researcher in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, where he serves as Principal Investigator of the Life Science Cannabis Research Group.

Dr. Emanuel brings a résumé that spans research, policy, and industry consulting across the Caribbean and beyond. His work includes research into cannabis reform policy for the region, along with the application, efficacy, and quality assurance of tropical horticulture for the production of Cannabis sativa. He has also collaborated with Humboldt Seed Company on developing cannabis germplasm suited for equatorial cultivation, and his research group has received grant funding from BioBizz Worldwide Organics to advance sustainable, environmentally friendly production practices.

His advisory work extends across the region as well. Dr. Emanuel is Vice-Chair of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica Cannabis Technical Committee, where he helps develop standards for Jamaica’s cannabis industry, and has served as a technical advisor and consultant to the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica on establishing a regulated cannabis industry there. He was also named to the Leaf Nation 2024 Impact List, recognizing individuals making a mark in the global cannabis world.

The Authority’s decision to bring in an educator of Dr. Emanuel’s standing underscores the weight it is placing on the TCP as more than a formality — positioning the orientation as a genuine knowledge-transfer opportunity for local growers stepping into a regulated framework for the first time.

Why It Matters

The launch of the Traditional Cultivator Programme comes as St. Kitts and Nevis continues to build out the regulatory architecture for its cannabis industry — an effort that began in earnest with the passage of the Cannabis Act in 2020 and accelerated in 2023 with a package of related legislation, including the Freedom of Conscience (Cannabis) Act, the Rastafari Rights Recognition Act, and the Smoking (Designated Areas) Act.

The SKNMCA itself was launched in April 2025 to oversee licensing for cultivation, processing, and dispensing under the medicinal cannabis framework. Since then, government and industry observers have repeatedly stressed that the country’s challenge is no longer legislative — the laws are largely in place — but administrative: turning years of legal groundwork into a functioning industry that benefits patients, small farmers, and the wider economy.

Small, traditional cultivators in particular have been described as a group still waiting for clarity on how they can formally enter the licensed market. The TCP appears to be a direct response to that gap, offering a structured entry point for local growers who have historically operated outside the formal system to begin transitioning into compliance with the country’s licensing regime.