The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, through the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with local cannabis company, Medicinal, on Thursday carried out the first marijuana extraction exercise in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the state-owned Agency for Public Information says.
The extraction process took place at the Fisheries lab in Kingstown and was preceded by a brief ceremony.
The ceremony was followed by a step-by-step explanation of the extraction process by Chief Development Officer of Medicinal, Julian Truchot.
The substance extracted is called cannabidiol and is used to treat an array of ailments including pneumonia and certain types of cancer.
Speaking at the ceremony, biotechnologist of the Medicinal Cannabis Authority, Jean Saville Cummings expressed delight at having this process being done in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, legally for the first time.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation, Saboto Caesar thanked all stakeholders, traditional and non-traditional cultivators for their tenacity and support.
He noted that the government is satisfied with the progress being made in having a sustainable medicinal industry set up in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.