CEO Brian Athaide says it’s an ‘important milestone’ toward further expansion for both the companies in Jamaica
() (OTCQX:TGODF) announced Wednesday that along with Epican Medicinals it is opening its second legal cannabis retail store in Jamaica.
Located on Montego Bay's "Hip Strip," the flagship location will open for business on Saturday. Montego Bay is a popular tourist destination and Jamaica's second largest city. It’s a major port for cruise ships, a prized destination for duty free shopping and has the country's largest airport.
READ: The Green Organic Dutchman continues blazing a trail into international cannabis markets
The Montego Bay dispensary is the second Epican dispensary to open, after Epican's Herb House in Kingston, which opened in began trading last year. Epican is the first fully-integrated company to have obtained a second retail licence from Jamaica's Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA).
Epican plans to open three new Herb Houses on the island. In combination with online ordering, these locations will serve the needs of Jamaica's three million residents, and over three and a half million annual visitors.
Well-designed space
"Epican's Montego Bay store is a bright and well-designed space ideally located to serve local and visiting patients with Epican's locally produced premium organic cannabis," Green Organic Dutchman CEO Brian Athaide said in a statement.
"Our Kingston location witnessed increasing sales volumes; setting the stage for the grand opening of an Epican Herb House in Jamaica's largest tourist hub. It is an important milestone toward further expansion for Epican and TGOD in Jamaica."
Jamaica is recognized as a premier destination for cannabis, and Epican has deep roots in the country. The founders, the McKenzie brothers, have been at the forefront of the nation's burgeoning medical cannabis industry, including advocacy for the responsible development of the sector. Epican was awarded the country's historic first cultivation licence.
"Today is yet another celebration for Epican and TGOD," said Epican Medicinals CEO Karibe McKenzie. "We have worked tirelessly to provide a fully-integrated solution delivering high-quality medical cannabis to Jamaicans and tourists alike, and the response in Kingston has been overwhelming. We can't wait to make our mark in Montego Bay."
The Green Organic Dutchman owns 49.18% of Epican Medicinals, and the organization is partnering to construct a manufacturing facility in Jamaica. Once it receives a licence to greenlight site expansion, Epican will cultivate premium cannabis strains for the Jamaican and international market.
The Green Organic Dutchman boasts operations focused on medical cannabis in Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as the Canadian recreational market.
Established by Dutch founders, the company grows organic cannabis in high-technology, eco-friendly and sustainable facilities. The cannabis is grown naturally in Canadian soil without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers and wrapped in eco-friendly packaging.
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