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by Brent Simon
Green is the New Gold: ABMCA’s Wadadli Cannabis Festival Redefines the Industry in the Region by Brent Simon
From forbidden herb to national pride, the Caribbean’s cannabis narrative is being rewritten- and Antigua and Barbuda is holding the pen.
In a landmark celebration of culture, cultivation, and consciousness, Antigua and Barbuda made regional history with the 2025 Wadadli Cannabis Festival – a multiday showcase of the island’s rising cannabis industry, traditional heritage, and progressive vision.
Held under the leadership of Antigua and Barbuda Medicinal Cannabis Authority (ABMCA) and strongly supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, the festival fused agriculture, music, and community into a singular, powerful message: Cannabis is no longer contraband – it’s currency, culture, and cure.
For generations, cannabis in the Caribbean was criminalized under colonial era laws – a plant demonized while foreign pharmaceuticals dominated local markets.
In Antigua, these inherited policies choked off indigenous healing practices and criminalized farmers who dares to cultivate what they knew could heal. But in 2025, those chains were finally broken.
Minister of Agriculture Hon. Anthony Smith Jr. widely regarded as one of the most forward-thinking public officials in the region, has taken bold steps to transform the cannabis narrative – not with vague promises but with visible tangible action.
At the heart of the festival, Minister Smith personally presented awards to the winners in the first government sanctioned Cannabis Cup, signaling strong political support and setting the stage for a thriving, regulated cannabis industry.
The Wadadli Cannabis Cup drew cultivators from across the island, each submitting their best indoor and outdoor strains for scientific testing and community evaluation. The results were nothing short of excellent.
At the center of the competitions, energy stood Avery Richards, a respected Rasta Elder whose participation in the Wadadli cannabis Cup was nothing short of dominance.
Richards swept the entire outdoor category, taking with strains that not only boasted sky-high THC levels but also rich, complex terpene profiles that impressed both the judges and public.
1st place: Wadadli Crunk – THC 27.54 %, Terpenes 1.8 %,
2nd place: Green Cheese – THC 26.39 %, Terpenes 1.9 %
3rd place: I Fruit – THC 24.53 %, Terpenes 2.1 %
His triple-win wasn’t just about growing plants – it was a lifetime of knowledge, spiritual connection, and traditional cultivation practices coming full circle.
As he exited the stage after accepting his trophies, fellow growers gathered around him in a moment of genuine respect and celebration, recognizing that the victory was a win for every farmer who had nurtured the plant long before it was legally acknowledged.
His success underscored the deep roots of cannabis culture in Antigua – -roots that no law could erase, and that now, finally are recognized.
In the indoor category, the competition was fierce but saw standout performances from Vitilio Pena and Dwayne Paul.
Pena took first and third place showcasing his seriousness about indoor cultivation with Dwayne Paul preventing a clean sweep of the indoor category with one of his potent strains.
1st place: Platinums – THC 24.10 %, Terpenes 1.5 %,
2nd place: Candy Elevation – THC 23.98 %, Terpenes 1.7 %
3rd place: Runts – THC 24.53 %, Terpenes 1.6 %
The indoor category showed just how far Antigua and Barbuda’s cannabis Industry is evolving. Indoor cultivation allows growers to precisely control temperature, humidity, light cycles, and pest exposure – all critical factors when producing consistent, high quality cannabis for medical use.
This level of precision is essential for meeting the strict standards expected in the medicinal market, where patients rely on predictable cannabinoid and terpene profiles for treatment.
By dominating the indoor category, growers like Mr. Vitilio Pena and Mr. Dwayne Paul proved that Antigua and Barbuda is not just growing cannabis – it’s growing it to a standard that can stand alongside global medical markets.
Their success signals a serious leap forward for the islands ambitions in the medical cannabis space.
However, the Cannabis Festival wasn’t all about THC percentages and Terpene profiles.
The event’s Culture Day offered a deeper dive into our national identity, featuring an Agri – Expo, traditional food stalls, and a fiercely contested domino tournament.
This PULL-A-RAMA, organized by Ms. Carol–Faye Bynoe-George – President of Antigua and Barbuda National Domino Association (ABNDA), was contested by over thirty players, with the youngest contestant a 13-year-old, winning second place. When the night was over the final results were:
1st place: Keith Johannes – 1 Flat Screen Television
2nd place: Kimani Skepple – 1 Microwave Oven
3rd place: Renfield Davis – 1 Air Fryer
A consolation prize of a Blender was awarded to Windon Graham.
Day transitioned into night, with prayers and chanting around the warmth of a bonfire, led by the Nya Bhingi Drummers and the event was brought to a close with a mini-concert featuring the Jamaican roots reggae artiste Chezideck.
Known for his conscious lyrics and Rastafarian messages Chezideck lit the stage with hits like “Leave de Trees” and “Call Pon Dem”, in a performance that felt less like a concert than a blessing. His message – protect the earth, know your roots, and stand for truth – resonated deeply with the particular crowd and moment.
The festival wrapped up on Sunday April 20th with a praise and thanksgiving ceremony held at the Nya Bhingi Temple at Ras Freeman located in Table Hill Gordon – Liberta where the spiritual significance of the bond between Rastafari, cannabis and community was honored by those present.
With strong leadership, popular support, and a growing framework of regulation and opportunity, Antigua and Barbuda is fast becoming a model for cannabis development in the Caribbean.
Minister Smith’s vision is clear: cannabis is not a threat – it is a tool for food sovereignty, medical advancement, economic diversification and national pride. The Wadadli Cannabis Festival didn’t just celebrate a plant: it celebrated a people reclaiming what was always theirs.
The seeds of progress have been planted. The world is watching – and – Antigua is ready to grow.
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Quake you have nothing on the stall that had all the medicines and cannabis products. Qhey were the only stall with actual cannabis medical products and beauty products for skin hair and nails. All qheir products are made here and they grow their own cannabis. Why not include them? As far as I saw they were the only business that were educating the public on the possibilities of medical marijuana. I think their company name is VST. Shame that you decided not to cover them I this issue. You have missed a big opportunity to help one of our own… why? Because they’re not rastas or rich? Or because the owners are not melanated? Come on, we need to do better
Interesting concept — finally seeing the cannabis industry treated seriously here.
I hope small growers aren’t pushed out by big investors.
I think If done right, this could be a game-changer for Antigua’s economy.
Cannabis reform is one thing, but where’s the expungement for past convictions?