The UWI, Cave Hill Campus, achieved a significant milestone on becoming the first institution in Barbados to secure a licence for research and development (R&D) into medicinal marijuana.
This prestigious licence, granted by the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) allows the campus to import, export, and conduct research on cannabis products.
This breakthrough is the culmination of a multi-year collaboration between Cave Hill and the BMCLA, initiated after the Government of Barbados passed the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill in 2019. In 2021, the campus formalized its commitment to advancing cannabis research and innovation through a Memorandum of Understanding with the BMCLA.
Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dr. Damian Cohall, emphasized the campus’s inclusive approach, recognizing the societal inequities surrounding cannabis use. He expressed optimism that the licence will not only fuel groundbreaking research but also create commercially viable projects, attracting grants and stimulating revenue for the university. “Our research spans the entire cannabis value chain, from seed to sale,” Dr. Cohall explained, noting that the work will focus on cardiometabolic syndrome, central nervous system disorders, and the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for conditions like epilepsy and other chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs).
The potential outcomes of this research are vast, Dr. Cohall noted, “Transformative medicinal interventions could emerge from our studies, significantly improving the health and wealth of Barbadians while boosting the country’s GDP.”
Cave Hill’s R&D licence empowers the institution to conduct cutting-edge research on various cannabis derivatives, including live plants, oils, seeds, and other cannabinoid compounds. This effort is driven by a team of leading academics, including Dr. Cohall, an ethnopharmacologist who has developed an open-access course on medicinal cannabis.
At a license-granting ceremony, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor R. Clive Landis highlighted the campus’s readiness to translate its research into tangible benefits for society. “We have all the necessary components—a robust pharmacology programme, advanced research labs, and agri-industry facilities—to lead in this field,” he said. The campus is now well-positioned to apply for further licences to support the production and certification of cannabis-based products.
The licence marks a new chapter in Cave Hill’s research portfolio, joining the ranks of UWI’s Mona Campus in Jamaica, which has been conducting similar research since legislative reforms in 2015.
This prestigious licence, granted by the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) allows the campus to import, export, and conduct research on cannabis products.
This breakthrough is the culmination of a multi-year collaboration between Cave Hill and the BMCLA, initiated after the Government of Barbados passed the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill in 2019. In 2021, the campus formalized its commitment to advancing cannabis research and innovation through a Memorandum of Understanding with the BMCLA.
Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dr. Damian Cohall, emphasized the campus’s inclusive approach, recognizing the societal inequities surrounding cannabis use. He expressed optimism that the licence will not only fuel groundbreaking research but also create commercially viable projects, attracting grants and stimulating revenue for the university. “Our research spans the entire cannabis value chain, from seed to sale,” Dr. Cohall explained, noting that the work will focus on cardiometabolic syndrome, central nervous system disorders, and the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for conditions like epilepsy and other chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs).
The potential outcomes of this research are vast, Dr. Cohall noted, “Transformative medicinal interventions could emerge from our studies, significantly improving the health and wealth of Barbadians while boosting the country’s GDP.”
Cave Hill’s R&D licence empowers the institution to conduct cutting-edge research on various cannabis derivatives, including live plants, oils, seeds, and other cannabinoid compounds. This effort is driven by a team of leading academics, including Dr. Cohall, an ethnopharmacologist who has developed an open-access course on medicinal cannabis.
At a license-granting ceremony, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor R. Clive Landis highlighted the campus’s readiness to translate its research into tangible benefits for society. “We have all the necessary components—a robust pharmacology programme, advanced research labs, and agri-industry facilities—to lead in this field,” he said. The campus is now well-positioned to apply for further licences to support the production and certification of cannabis-based products.
The licence marks a new chapter in Cave Hill’s research portfolio, joining the ranks of UWI’s Mona Campus in Jamaica, which has been conducting similar research since legislative reforms in 2015.
