Hurricane Melissa recently struck Jamaica with a fury the country hadn’t seen since the legendary Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. This Category 5 storm, with winds of nearly 185 mph and torrential rain, left 32 people dead, entire communities cut off, widespread structural damage across the island, and a humanitarian crisis in motion.
On top of the human toll, Jamaica now faces an unprecedented cultural and economic loss: the hurricane wiped out whole cannabis farms, a national symbol and a vital source of income for both legal and informal growers.
The scene is apocalyptic. In several parishes across western Jamaica, roofs were torn off, torrential floods submerged entire towns, and cannabis farms —along with other crops— were destroyed. For an island where cannabis is both cultivated and deeply intertwined with its national identity, Hurricane Melissa presents a double challenge: rebuilding infrastructure and facing an unexpected shortage.
Since the last major hurricane nearly forty years ago, only the oldest remember what a Category 5 event truly means. Younger generations had no memory of such a storm, nor clear response protocols. As a result, most people didn’t really know what to do before, during, or after the disaster.
A Hurricane that Left Jamaica Without Water, Food, or Crops
The government declared a state of “national disaster” while working to assess the damage. According to local and international reports, Melissa destroyed both legal and informal harvests and crippled much of the country’s agricultural base. Radio Sativa reported that, in addition to cannabis, essential crops like bananas, coffee, and sugarcane were severely damaged, threatening both the nation’s food supply and export commodities. Reasonably, fears of food insecurity are spreading fast.
“All cultivation facilities were devastated, whether from flooding or structural damage. Wire fences, roofs, greenhouses, even shipping containers went flying,” said Triston Thompson, founder of cannabis company Tacaya, in an interview with C5N.
By the numbers:
- Over 130 blocked roads.
- Massive water and power outages.
- Thousands of farmers left without tools or shelter.
- More than 90% of banana and plantain crops were destroyed.
- Roughly 40% of the poultry sector was lost, alongside damage to fishing fleets.
- Total crop loss in key regions like St. Ann, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth.
The blow is structural—roads, power lines, and water systems have all been compromised, slowing recovery efforts. But the impact ripples across multiple fronts —economic (the regulated industry may only endure a few more months with current supply), cultural, and health-related, particularly for Rastafari communities that depend on ritual cannabis use.
Cannabis: A Cultural Icon and Economic Lifeline in Crisis
Although the world associates Jamaica with ganja, the country’s relationship with the plant has always been complicated. Since the 2015 reform under the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, possession of up to 2 ounces and home cultivation of up to 5 plants were decriminalized, with religious use also permitted within the Rastafari movement.
Said reform helped create an industry that employs thousands and exports medical products. Now, that entire ecosystem —both formal and informal— is paralyzed.
What this means:
- Regulated dispensaries have stock for only 2–3 months.
- Informal growers lost everything.
- Medical cannabis patients may face supply interruptions.
- Recovery could take over a full agricultural year.
- The government is weighing emergency incentives to revive the sector.
Jamaica’s agriculture has suffered more than JA$20 billion (about USD 130 million) in losses, only across major crop sectors. “It was like Melissa came through with a lawnmower,” said Thompson.
Back in 2021, Jamaica faced a similar crisis of drought and cannabis shortages, though on a much smaller scale. Heavy rains followed by a prolonged drought, a surge in local consumption, and a drop in the number of growers caused an unprecedented shortage in Jamaica’s cannabis market, still largely illegal at the time. This episode —intensified by the pandemic and the lack of agricultural infrastructure— was just a small preview of what Hurricane Melissa has now repeated on a devastating scale.
Among the appeals for help emerging from the island is one from the official account of Rastasafari Experience, a community-based tourism project from Roaring River in Westmoreland Parish, one of the areas hit the hardest by the storm. In their post, they wrote that Hurricane Melissa completely destroyed the village, leaving hundreds of people homeless and bereft.
The message, Updated a week after the hurricane, explained that there was still no electricity or cell service in the area, and that the community would launch an official GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for reconstruction as soon as possible. “Thank you in advance for any help you can provide,” the post concluded.
Solidarity Networks: Artists, Activists, and Brands Lead the Way
While the government focuses on clearing debris and people struggle to get back on their feet, the first visible response has come from the diaspora, cannabis activists, and Jamaica’s music scene.
American activist and entrepreneur Steve DeAngelo shared an urgent message on Instagram, asking for donations to support the Rastafari indigenous community of RIV Retreats in Montego Bay, one of the areas most affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The 67-year-old, long-time advocate for cannabis reform in the U.S. publicly urged support for those impacted by the storm across the Caribbean island. He emphasized the extent of the devastation and encouraged people to donate whatever they could, from one, five, or ten dollars to $50,000 or even $500,000, speaking directly to those in a position to give more.
One example came from Colin Fraser, CEO of cannabis delivery startup Upling, who announced a $50,000 donation in financial and material aid for affected farmers, according to MMJ Daily.
Another household name, Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, joined the wave of solidarity from his home parish, Trelawny, one of the regions most devastated by the hurricane. According to the Jamaica Observer, the multiple gold medalist visited his former school, William Knibb High School, to distribute care packages to affected families.
J A M A I C A,
You all gave me the chance to represent you on the world stage — to wear our colours with pride, show the world the strength, resilience, and the heart of our people. Everything I’ve achieved started right here at home.
Now, as so many of our children,… pic.twitter.com/TyivZJzMDZ
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) November 9, 2025
In a video shared on X, Bolt said:
“I have seen all the videos… and people always say it is so much more different when you see it in action.”
He reaffirmed his commitment, adding:
“Everything I’ve achieved started right here at home. Now, as so many of our children, brothers and sisters face the hardships caused by Hurricane Melissa, please know — We are right here with YOU.”
Jamaican artist Shaggy led one of the most comprehensive relief efforts: he coordinated planes loaded with supplies from Miami, traveled for hours through the hardest-hit regions, and —according to AP News— partnered with Global Empowerment Mission and Food For The Poor to ensure aid reached the most affected communities. “Jamaica has changed forever after this,” he warned, urging the international community not to let the issue fade from view.
Fellow Jamaican star, Sean Paul, launched a public fundraising campaign, also partnering with Food For The Poor Jamaica, and pledged to match donations up to $50,000 to support those displaced by Melissa, according to FOX. From another front, Maxi Priest and Luciano supported a relief drive in Leyton, London, collecting food and essential goods to send to the island. “It doesn’t matter how small it is, we just have to do something,” Maxi Priest said, stressing the urgency of community-driven aid.
Meanwhile, Bethenny Frankel mobilized her organization BStrong to send up to $10 million in humanitarian aid —including food, medical supplies, and basic goods— prioritizing direct cash transfers and dignity for survivors. Artists such as Spice, Beenie Man, Konshens, and Chronixx, along with figures from hip-hop and dancehall, are amplifying verified donation links and resources. Properties connected to the Marley family are also being used as collection and relief centers.
How Can We Help?
As Jamaica, Cuba, and other Caribbean nations slowly begin to recover, several verified international organizations have been identified as official channels for donations.
These include:
These groups are working hand-in-hand with local volunteers to ensure that supplies —food, water, medicine, and rebuilding materials— reach the most severely impacted communities.
Amid the ruins and flooded fields, thousands of Jamaican families now face what it truly means to start from scratch. The immediate priorities are restoring clean water, fuel, and electricity, but equally urgent is rebuilding the agricultural and cultural roots that sustain the island.
