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The Medicinal Cannabis Authority, at its headquarters in Rivulet, hosted a media tour on Thursday, 12th August, 2021, of the newly completed Analytical Service Provider Facility where locally produced medicinal cannabis products will be tested for potency and safety. The lab is the gateway to export for regional and international markets. This completes a development cycle that has included the design, construction, and outfitting of the purpose-built laboratory; the first of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean.

The development has taken the form of a public-private partnership between the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA), which invested in the design and construction of the building at a cost of over $700,000 and Caribbean Gold Standard who provided the equipment of over 2 million dollars and will be managing the operations of the facility, supporting the medicinal cannabis industry. CGS has conducted advertisements and interviews for permanent positions within the organization and has employed two (2) Vincentians thus far to manage the lab operations and administration. The next few weeks will see the continuation of the installation and calibration of the many pieces of equipment in the facility and the training of personnel in operation and maintenance.

The scope of testing includes analysis for the potency of cannabinoids and terpenes, detection of pesticides and heavy metals, detection of pathogenic microbes, moulds and fungi, as well as quantification of water content and activity. The equipment and capacity to facilitate this testing represents a significant investment in infrastructure by CGS and signals their confidence in and commitment to the Vincentian Medicinal Cannabis industry.

The facility will also service other parts of the agricultural, fisheries, and manufacturing industries in support of local businesses seeking access to international markets. In many industries, the previous absence of such a certified product testing service has formed a technical barrier to trade, prohibiting Vincentian producers from lucrative export streams. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the eruption of La Soufriere Volcano, CGS has express excitement to partner with the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in support of the growth of local businesses and socio-economic development.

The service is expected to be open soon for commercial testing.

 

 

 

SOURCE: Medicinal Cannabis Authority