The regulated medicinal cannabis industry in Barbadoscould expand in 2026 with the opening of two new facilities now pushing towards operational status, the industry's regulator confirmed on Friday. Shanika Roberts-Odle, acting chief executive officer of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA), made the disclosure during an open day at Island Naturals Medical Centre at Sheraton Mall.
"There are at least two that are intent on getting their business up and running this year," she told Barbados TODAY, while cautioning that the authority was careful not to make promises it could not guarantee. She confirmed that the two facilities would fall within the pharmacy or therapeutic category, offering regulated access to medicinal cannabis under medical supervision.
The open day formed part of activities marking the fifth anniversary of the BMCLA. Roberts-Odle noted that in 2025, two businesses successfully opened their doors, representing what she described as tangible progress in an industry that was never expected to develop overnight.
The authority has issued about 12 licences across the value chain, covering cultivation, manufacturing, retail, transport, security and research and development, including a licence held by The University of the West Indies, Roberts-Odle said. She explained that while some licensees were already operational, others were still navigating business, financing and logistical hurdles.
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