Jamaica faces marijuana shortage

Bad weather and a drop in the number of farmers has led to a marijuana shortage in Jamaica.

Marijuana fields were battered by heavy rain during last year's hurricane season, before being scorched in the drought that followed, leading to tens of thousands of dollars in losses.

Strict COVID-19 measures made the situation worse, especially a 6pm curfew that meant farmers could not tend to their fields at night as is routine.

A lack of roads forces farmers to walk to their fields and then to get water from wells and springs. Many were unable to do those chores at night due to the curfew.

Jamaica, which has long been associated with pot, reggae, and Rastafarians, authorised a regulated medical marijuana industry and decriminalised the possession of small amounts of weed in 2015.

[Source; Sky News]