Upholding Compliance in Jamaica’s Medical Cannabis Industry
The Site Inspection and Monitoring Unit (SIMU), an integral part of the Compliance and Monitoring Section (CMS) within the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), ensures that all licensed cannabis operations align with Jamaica’s legal and regulatory frameworks. With a primary focus on compliance with the Interim Regulations governing the medical cannabis industry, SIMU is essential to maintaining the integrity, security, and accountability of the sector.
By combining thorough on-site inspections with innovative technology, SIMU conducts critical activities that safeguard compliance and reinforce the standards required to uphold a transparent and secure medical cannabis industry in Jamaica.
Pre-Licensing Site Inspections
Before a license is issued, the unit inspects sites to ensure they meet the required standards for cultivation, processing, testing, or sales of cannabis. This involves verifying that security, infrastructure, and operational requirements are met.
Post-Approval and Follow-up Inspections
In cases where an applicant does not meet the timeline for license issuance, or when there is a prolonged gap between inspections, the unit revisits the site to ensure compliance with regulatory standards before finalizing the license issuance.
Site Assessments for Extensions
SIMU evaluates requests for extensions on Conditional Approvals by inspecting sites and reviewing progress in relation to previously submitted plans.
Plant Count
Officers perform regular counts of cannabis plants on cultivation sites to ensure that licensed operations do not exceed the allowed number of plants and to track the inventory accurately.
Harvest Monitoring
The unit monitors the harvesting of cannabis to ensure it is carried out according to regulations. This includes physical and electronic oversight to record yields and reconcile inventory, preventing diversion and ensuring industry integrity.
Disposal Oversight
The disposal of cannabis plants, including dead or male plants and cannabis waste, is closely monitored to ensure that it is done in compliance with quality assurance and disposal policies.
The Senior Site Inspector
The SSI leads the Electronic Monitoring function, utilizing technology to monitor operations remotely. This includes monitoring off-site surveillance feeds, analyzing inventory records, and tracking compliance via digital platforms such as social media and websites.
Remote Monitoring of Harvests and Disposals
Through various technology, the unit remotely oversees various activities, ensuring compliance in real time.
The unit is involved in evaluating and approving requests for Educational Ganja Tours by licensees. A site assessment is conducted to verify whether the location meets all necessary criteria for hosting tours, which include security, surveillance systems, and adherence to other legal requirements.
The unit assists new licensees during the Start-Up phase, providing guidance on inventory management, access logs, harvest responsibilities, and compliance with agricultural practices. This is often done in collaboration with the Cannabis Specialization Unit (CSU)
The unit plays a key role in Joint Briefings with applicants at critical stages of the licensing process, such as during Conditional Approval, Notification of License, and Issuance of License meetings. These sessions provide clarity on regulatory requirements and set expectations for compliance.
Regular monitoring of licensees continues throughout the life of the license, including checking compliance with operational standards and ensuring that no unauthorized cannabis cultivation or activity occurs.
Out of Status Reports: The unit monitors and tracks licensees who are not in compliance, such as those with expired licenses or who have exited the industry, compiling regular reports to identify trends and potential issues
The unit is responsible for the management and reconciliation of inventory records, ensuring that all data related to plant counts, harvests, and disposals are accurate and up to date. This includes ongoing filing and reporting on the status of each licensed operation
The unit conducts Specialized and Targeted Monitoring Visits to inspect specific operational aspects of licensed sites, such as surveillance systems. Although these visits are typically non-punitive, they help identify areas where compliance can be improved
SIMU works closely with other units within the CLA to provide data and analysis, contributing to the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Plan (CMEP). Regular reports are generated to monitor industry compliance and share insights with stakeholders