Cannabis in the Caribbean

ISLA DEL ENCANTO, BORIKEN - PUERTO RICO “YO SOY BORICUA, PA’QUE TU SEPA.”

Boriken (Land of the Great Lords), the name Taino’s gave the island we now know as Puerto Rico. Taino’s are the original people of the island, descendants of Arawak, who were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida. Before colonizers invaded the Caribbean in the 14th century, Taino’s were the principal inhabitants of most of Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.

History and historians say that enslaved Africans were taken over to Puerto Rico, when the island started producing cattle, tobacco, sugar cane, and coffee. At the time, owned by the Crown, importation of West Africans began.

Pedro Mejias is said to be the first free black man to set foot in the island; he was a conquistador that joined forces with Juan Ponce de Leon, and fought under the Spaniards to take over the island. He married a Taino woman chief: Yuisa (sometimes documented as Yuiza; the town of Loiza is named after her), and this began the African and Taino bloodline.

In July of 1898, 16,000 U.S troops invaded the island to “liberate the people” from Spanish colonial rule. In October of that same year, the American flag was raised formalizing U.S control of the former spanish colony (Puerto Rico is the world’s oldest colony).

The vast majority of Puerto Ricans are Taino and African. Taino population was greatly impacted when European colonizers infected them with diseases that never existed on the island before their arrival in the late 1400’s. Some say Taino’s are extinct, but that's not true; extinction started but Taino’s are not extinct. Most Puerto Ricans, even those being born today, have Taino in their bloodline.

The Perez bloodline in my family, which is my maternal bloodline, is Taino. We are here, growing every year.

>Travel Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico (no passport needed for U.S citizens because Puerto Rico is a U.S territory) is east of Florida, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic (Haiti and Dominican Republic share an island). Puerto Rico is in between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands (which are partly territory of the U.S, and part territory of the Crown), and includes the islands of Culebra and Vieques (this means these islands are also U.S territory). This is similar to Florida and her keys.

The island has over 300 miles of coastlines, 111 miles of them from east to west, and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (San Juan on the Atlantic side, Ponce on the Caribbean Sea side). Puerto Rico is an island with oceans, rivers, mountains, rainforests, and waterfalls. The reason Boriken became Puerto Rico (rich port) is because coloziners found that there were gold mines all around the island, like gold found in rivers. This was until… colonizers depleted them.

There is so much to see and explore on the island! Most people visiting for the first few times visit and stay in the capital and largest city on the island: San Juan, which is home to the Isla Verde strip. This is the nightclubs, restaurants, bars, and hotels on the ocean strip that is extremely popular, and for great reason; it’s marvelous!

Old San Juan, is about 15 min away by car and is home to the beautiful: Castillo San Felipe del Morro (San Felipe del Morro Castle). This area is a great place to catch a vibe, a salsa dance, a bite, and amazing scenic views. Walking around the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan is something like a romantic experience.

The mountain region, known as central island, is majestic. I visited Caguas and driving around the upper mountains is always healing. Nature, producing food and herbs like: recao (cilantro family), guineo (green bananas) platanos (plantains), papaya, breadfruit, mint, and pineapple (just to name a few), can be found all over this region.

Visiting this area means you’ll hear the coqui (frog) singing at night, and the birds singing to greet you with the sunrise. It’s quiet and seems like a world away, but it’s only an hour or so from San Juan when headed to the Atlantic, and an hour or so from Ponce when headed to the Caribbean Sea. For one of the world's longest zipline rides, Central island is for you. Toro Verde National Nature Adventure Park is home to his zipline.

Ponce, the largest city on the Caribbean Sea side of the island, and the second largest city on the island. Ponce was Spain’s capital of the southern region (Spain controlled PR before the U.S). La Guancha Peseo Tablado is a nice area to visit, along the Caribbean Sea. The boardwalk has incredible views of oceans and mountains. Off the ocean a little, visitors can find malls, museums, and lots of Puerto Rican cuisine.

>Cannabis 101 for Those Visiting Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico allows guests traveling from other parts of the United States, to use their medical cannabis cards to shop in cannabis dispensaries on the island. The condition(s) have to be on the list of conditions approved by state/territory. Safe Access Now says:

“Puerto Rico extends reciprocity to medical cannabis patients with unexpired medical cannabis recommendations and medical cannabis ID cards from U.S. states for up to 30 days as long as those states maintain a database that allows verification of patient status and make such information available to Puerto Rican authorities and dispensaries. Puerto Rico does not impose a residency requirement for qualifying patients, meaning that nonresident patients may obtain a Puerto Rican medical cannabis card by visiting an authorized healthcare provider, completing the application process and paying $25.”

Medical cannabis patient’s can purchase edibles, oills, and topicals. Being approved to purchase cannabis flower requires an additional process and fee, that results in obtaining a Puerto Rico medical cannabis card. Because cannabis is still federally illegal, traveling with cannabis- THC is not legal.

>Cannabis-Friendly Lodging in Puerto Rico

There are many options to choose from. I chose a bud and breakfast in San Juan: Coqui Del Mar Guesthouse; a safe space for the LGBTQ community that supports cannabis patients in their consumption of cannabis. This is such a lovely place just footsteps away from the Atlantic Ocean and about a 10-minute car ride away from Isla Verde.

Guests have a few different units to choose from, I chose the Pink room, next to the jacuzzi and centrally located between la hacienda (store) and the pool. This is a full studio unit, with a full kitchen and bathroom. Though I wasn’t able to consume cannabis indoors, I was able to consume anywhere outdoors: the pool, the jacuzzi, the rooftop deck, right outside my door, etc.

For those that like to be in the nude, that's allowed in the pool area. I had a marvelous time during my stay and met some cool people that educated me on the island and other cool travel destinations. It was breakfast and blunts every morning (coffee and breakfast is included with the stay), over great conversation, and the experience was great!

This was my first cannabis-friendly BnB based in the Caribbean. Travelers can book their stay at Coqui Del Mar Guesthouse by visiting www.budandbreakfast.com.

>Sneak Peek into Cannabis Cultivation in Puerto Rico

Before arriving to the island, I connected with Simon Hawk through my travel partners, and he connected me with Zach Waldman, one of the owners at Consolidated C.R., LLC; a medical cannabis cultivation company in San Juan. Zach, is the lead cultivator, and owns/manages the company with Mike Abrams, James Grenier, and Viantinna Campana.

In a 5,000 sq ft cultivation space (the company is licensed for up to 10,000 sq ft), Zach and his team are growing 11 genetics with raging terpenes! The plants are gorgeous, dense, happy, and smelling like the best produce section in the nation. Genetics grown by Consolidated C.R., LLC are on the top shelves of dispensaries around the island.

This was first caribbean based cannabis cultivation and it was a nice learning experience. You can ask about their products in local dispensaries, and soon, shop in their dispensary. Consolidated C.R. LLC is opening, La Budega (a cannabis dispensary) this year.

>Isla Del Encanto, Gracias Por Todo

Puerto Rico always sends me off full of light, love, and gratitude. The experience is always majestic, but this time, I have the memory of this gorgeous island that my roots link to, being my first and official coverage of cannabis in the caribbean. Perfect alignment.

I recommend a trip to la isla del encanto (island of enchantment) to experience one of the most gorgeous places in North America, maybe even the world. When you visit, I recommend a menu that will allow you to order: mofongo, platanos maduros, arroz con gandules, and pasteles.

Huge thank you to my village of support. My journey and experience was made possible by: Bud and Breakfast, Simon Hawk, Coqui Del Mar Gay Guesthouse, Consolidated C.R., LLC, and the Love Plug. Each sponsored/supported my travel journey to the island, my stays on the island, introductions to people in cannabis on the island, cannabis tours on the island, and getting around the island.