It’s an idyllic Caribbean island that’s been long associated with da ‘erb, thanks to musicians such as reggae legend Bob Marley.

But the first legal Cannabis plant has now been planted in Jamaica, on the grounds of a University campus.

The University of the West Indies has been authorised by the Jamaican government to cultivate marijuana for medical research, but more significantly to ‘set the pace the development of a legal cannabis industry’.

The new development for Marijuana in the country comes across the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015, which hopes to develop a medical marijuana industry in the country.

And a similar license will also be granted to Jamaica’s University of Technology.

Jamaica’s Science Minister Philip Paulwell said the trial could pave the way for the ‘commercialisation’ of Cannabis.

‘I want to know when you start to do the experimentation, and what is found in the plant’, he said.

‘We have to start this way, so that we can set the stage for full commercialisation’.

Recent law changes in Jamaica saw the partial decriminalisation of small quantities of marijuana, and loosened medical marijuana restrictions.