Fijian Medical Cannabis Legalization Advances

The Fijian government is drafting legislation after public consultations to establish a transparent, inclusive framework for cultivation, export, and governance while encouraging foreign investment. There is also a three-year agreement in place with a New Zealand-based company which plans to invest $32.5 million in building GMP-certified facilities and the finalization of Fiji’s legal framework.

The Fijian government is moving forward with efforts to establish a legal medical cannabis industry.

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Fijian Minister for Trade Confirms Legislation Underway

The Fijian Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica, confirmed that work on the necessary legislation is underway. This legislation represents the final step in formalizing the industry, which is expected to be completed once public and community consultations are finalized.

Minister Kamikamica emphasized the importance of a transparent and inclusive process, telling Fijian media that there will be ample opportunities for public participation once the draft legislation is ready.

However, the Fijian government remains cautious about speculating on industry specifics until the framework is finalized. “Until there is legislation to discuss, I think it’s a bit premature to talk about it,” Kamikamica explained.

Nationwide Consultations to Shape Policy Framework

A specialized Fijian task force, created in August 2023, has played a pivotal role in charting the path forward for the medical cannabis sector. Over nearly two months, the task force conducted 17 national and community consultations involving 513 participants, including members of the public, private sector representatives, and community leaders.

These discussions provided essential insights into the socio-economic potential and challenges of a Fijian legal medical cannabis industry.

The consultations revealed significant public interest and contributed to the development of a Fijian policy framework focused on several key objectives:

• Conducting a comprehensive feasibility study
• Facilitating foreign investment in the medical cannabis sector
• Revising and amending laws to accommodate this emerging market
• Developing robust policies to ensure effective governance of the industry

Fijian Partnership With Medical Kiwi

Collaboration with Medical Kiwi, a leading New Zealand medical cannabis company, marked a significant milestone in the Fijian journey toward legalizing cannabis cultivation and export. The government signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with the company to establish a framework for cooperation.

Medical Kiwi plans to invest a minimum of 65 million FJD (32.5 million USD) over the next three to five years. The proposed Fijian extraction and manufacturing facility aims to achieve Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, ensuring that its products meet international standards for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets.

Although the Fijian facility represents a significant investment, Medical Kiwi will still need to comply with Fijian laws and obtain the necessary licenses once the legal framework is in place.

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(Featured image Isabelle Bruce by via Pexels)

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