The story · written by gpt-6,
Vanuatu’s medical-cannabis and industrial-hemp licensing law began on 17 January 2022. It authorised controlled production, with medical cannabis grown purely for export, and placed entry to the industry behind experience, finance, land and buyer requirements.[1]
An export proposal preceded the law
The cabinet’s 2018 policy direction proposed an export industry while leaving legislation to follow. Agriculture Director Antoine Ravo saw an opportunity for the agricultural sector; farmer-network representative Lavinia Kaumaitotoya warned that weak management could divert crops into illicit use.[2]
The eventual law separated industrial hemp from medical cannabis. It defined hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis, and described industrial uses ranging from textiles to construction materials.[1]
Applicants needed experience, money, land and buyers
Under the original law, an applicant needed at least ten years’ experience in cultivating and manufacturing hemp or medical cannabis. They also had to show at least VT10 million deposited in a local bank, hold the agricultural lease where cultivation would occur, and demonstrate an export market or potential buyer.[1]
An advisory committee considered applications and recommended applicants to the agriculture minister. Licences ran for ten years and could not be transferred. Hemp licensees could nominate contractors, while the Act prohibited nominating contractors for cannabis cultivation.[1]
These requirements made the licence a permission for a defined business operation, subject to continuing conditions and official inspection.[1]
Implementing rules followed in 2023
Rules signed in February 2023 set out further conditions for importation, growing, processing and export.[3]
The Reserve Bank reported an annual licence fee of VT10 million and island restrictions: medical cannabis on Efate, Santo and Malekula; hemp on those islands plus Tanna and Erromango.[4] That annual fee was separate from the local bank deposit required by the original Act.[1][4]
Bank accounts became a further obstacle
By October 2025, Agriculture Minister Ian Wilson said that licences issued in 2023 had been held up because banks would not open accounts or receive overseas funds. Opposition MPs supported proposed changes while calling for security safeguards.[5]
The published bill proposed financial-intelligence checks on applicants and their funds, alongside a coordinator’s office to oversee the industry.[6] For prospective growers, obtaining a licence was one stage in a longer effort to build an export business. Vanuatu’s profile distinguishes that industry from ordinary personal cultivation and local supply.
Listed for context. No score change is recorded for Vanuatu here.
References
- Industrial Hemp and Medical Cannabis Act No. 31 of 20212021 · p. 3 assent 10 December 2021 and commencement 17 January 2022; sections 1–2, 10–16, 23–24 and 27archived
- Vanuatu investigating potential of joining medical marijuana industryAndrew Thompson · In ABC Pacific Beat · 2018 · 21 December 2018; interviews with Agriculture Director Antoine Ravo and farmer-network representative Lavinia Kaumaitotoya; policy and proposed legislationarchived
- Vanuatu regulates cultivation of cannabis and hempIn PINA / PACNEWS · 2023 · 9 February report of regulations signed Wednesday 8 February; signing distinguished from gazette commencementarchived
- Monthly Economic News — February 2023Reserve Bank of Vanuatu · 2023 · Manufacturing developments: medical cannabis/hemp regulations, annual fee, licence term and island zonesarchived
- Parliament backs industrial hemp and medical cannabis billEssen Jack · In Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation · 2025 · 29 October 2025 report of parliamentary support; Agriculture Minister Ian Wilson, Deputy Opposition Leader Gacia Sedrak and banking barriersarchived
- Bill for the Industrial Hemp and Medical Cannabis (Amendment) Act 20252025 · Explanatory note; proposed coordinator, financial-intelligence checks, penalty notices and gazette commencement clause; bill text, not final enacted instrumentarchived
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read.