The Green Organic Dutchman (TGOD.T) has provided an update on the moves it’s making in the Caribbean through its Jamaican subsidiary, Epican.
TGOD’s assets in Jamaica were developed to take advantage of the island nation’s low labour costs and optimal all-season growing conditions in addition to a rich history of cannabis cultivation.
“We have made incredible progress in Jamaica over the past 8 months,” commented Brian Athaide, Director and CEO of TGOD. “We plan to continue opening stores throughout the country, increasing productive capacity, and expanding our leadership in Jamaica.
Jamaica will act as the company’s gateway to Latin America, North America and Europe. To that end, the company’s Kingston Lab is pursuing GMP certification to allow for international exports.
Epican has so far leased a 100-acre parcel of Land in Trelawny Parish in northwest Jamaica.
TGOD’s current production capacity in Jamaica is 1,300 kg. The company is also clearing the land in preparation for a 2,000 kg pilot program with the goal of an eventual ramp-up to 14,000 kg of production in the works.
The company says it will only require 5% of the property’s total area to cultivate 14,000 kg of dried product.
Besides land for cultivation, Epican has been busy securing land for retail spaces as well. The company has locked-down locations in Montego Bay and Negril as homes for its upcoming second and third dispensary locations.
The Montego Bay location is ready to open and is waiting on authorization from the Jamaican Cannabis Licensing Authority, and both are found next to popular areas like the world-famous Rick’s Café in Negril to capitalize on pedestrian traffic.
Jamaica is visited by 4.3 million tourists each year and the planned dispensaries will be well-positioned to take advantage of this influx of potential patients.
Epican is also testing state-of-the-art cannabis vending machines which utilize thumbprint scanners to ensure product is dispensed only to authorized patients.
One such machine is on display at the retail store in Market Place, Constant Spring Road, St Andrew, awaiting roll-out, and Epican’s chief executive officer Karibe McKenzie explained that the technology behind its design took into account, and addressed, the potential risk of abuse.
“The CLA has never seen anything like it before so they are very excited and impressed because it not only uses the card that you receive but also your biometrics. Because we wouldn’t want a situation where a kid could steal their parents’ card and come to the machine and access it.”
–Christopher Serju, The Gleaner.
Epican has also increased its employee base from 17 to 40, sponsored the Herb Cure pavilion at the 2019 Rebel Salute music festival and is currently piloting a prescription delivery service for its registered medical patients.
We think TGOD is going for a run this year.
Full disclosure: TGOD is an Equity.Guru marketing client.
Hey Ethan, can you answer a question for me please? Tgod just signed with OCS to supply them. Does TGOD have a sales license yet or do they have an application in yet? Thanks!!
Hey JRC,
Thanks for the comment. TGOD currently has a medical sales license, a processing license and a cultivation license. Though it’s designated as a medical sales license, the company can sell plants, seeds and flower to both provincially authorized retailers and its own patients. Hope that answered your question.
–Ethan