Native Nations sign LOIs with local farmers for cannabis farming program

GREAT BAY--Native Nations SXM has signed letters of intent with 17 local farmers thus far to collaborate on a cannabis farming program that pairs outdoor cultivation with food production and market access. The LOIs follow a “Call to Farmers” meeting held on August 3, 2025 at the Rupert Maynard Community Center in St. Peters, and a series of one on one consultations that are nearing completion.

The initiative builds on earlier engagement, including a September 19 meet and greet at Native Nations SXM offices with the President of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and Native Nations Cannabis, where farmers discussed the framework for a local program.

Under the model, Master Farmers operate as independent entrepreneurs, not employees. Contracts cover outdoor cultivation for industrial hemp, CBD, and THC products for export and the domestic market. Each farmer will hold an uptake agreement that guarantees 100 percent purchase of harvests, followed by testing and processing at a licensed facility. Farmers managing their own staff and equipment can access land leases if needed, receive premium genetics, and take part in several levels of training. They will also be eligible for start up loans of up to USD 50,000, subject to quality and compliance standards.

Food security is integrated through crop rotation. Farmers will plant cannabis on one lot and food crops such as cucumber, watermelon, and sage on a separate lot during the same cycle, then rotate. This approach uses cannabis’ soil enriching properties to improve the next food crop. A Farmers Market will be constructed adjacent to the fields, providing a daily, food only outlet for fresh produce. Farmers will have two income streams: cannabis under the uptake agreement, and food sales at the market.

Planned farm activities include educational tours, sightseeing tours, culinary events, and harvest festivals. The broader program links cannabis cultivation with composting, agricultural training, product development, and food resilience, creating closed loop systems where plant waste becomes soil amendments. The goal is to attract young people to regenerative farming by combining science, compliance, and entrepreneurship.

The emerging industry on Sint Maarten is projected to create over 560 jobs across farming, processing, retail, logistics, security, and administration. Outdoor hemp and food farming are expected to employ more than 160 people. The Social Economic Stimulus Model is expected to generate USD 6 to 10 million in indirect spending for construction and supplies, and to support tourism growth estimated between 15 and 25 percent, which would benefit local businesses and hospitality.

The St. Maarten initiative integrates cannabis farming with compost programs, agricultural training, product development, and food resilience projects, creating closed-loop systems where cannabis waste becomes soil amendments that boost food yields. The model also aims to attract young people to regenerative farming by connecting science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

Native Nations SXM calls on residents, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to engage with this transformative effort by visiting nncsxm.com and following NNC SXM on Facebook to stay updated on news, events, and opportunities in St. Maarten’s growing cannabis movement.

“This is about more than cannabis, it’s about sovereignty, inclusion, and community resilience,” the organization stated. “Together, we can build an industry rooted in fairness, transparency, and shared prosperity for all St. Maarteners.”

St. Maarten’s cannabis legalization effort began in 2022 when the Government launched a request for proposals to develop legislation. Native Nations was selected as the preferred partner in November 2023 and officially mandated in April 2024 to design the regulatory framework. Since July 2024, an intergovernmental working group has met weekly to advance the process.

Beyond the direct employment opportunities, the Social Economic Stimulus Model is expected to generate significant indirect economic benefits. The initiative will inject between 6 and 10 million dollars into the local construction and supply industries, contributing to infrastructure development and job creation in related fields. Additionally, the model is projected to boost tourism, with an estimated 15 to 25 percent increase in visitor numbers. This tourism bump will have a ripple effect on local businesses, hotels, and other service providers, further stimulating economic growth.

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