And while the key players in the sugar industry remain in a semi-standoff, at least they have an industry - which marijuana may never have.
Last year, government went into a holding pattern when the churches triggered a referendum on the misuse of drugs amendment bill - which would have legalized marijuana for adult use.
11 months later, that holding pattern has not changed - and it's like that old reggae song, "nobody move, nobody get hurt!"
Frozen in the middle of standoff is Minister of New Growth Industries, Kareem Musa, and we asked him if the legislation is ever going to go anywhere:
Jules Vasquez
"This marijuana referendum will never happen, sir. You've been taken for a fool, we've been take for a fool. Nutton nah goh happen because the churches said, mutton noh got soh. It's over, it's over for marijuana."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I, I, I don't see it that way Jules. Not at all. If you look at marjuana and compare it to other jurisdictions, how far we have gotten. In other parts of the world, some of it is medicinal, some of it is nonexistent, and, some, in very rare situations, are adult use consumption. We managed to pass the legislation not just in the house of representatives with the opposition support."
"So it passed the House of Representatives and in the Senate it received the support of the opposition as well which was able to, which made it pass through both houses and it was merely for the Governor General to sign it into law. I think that has gone a long way, compared to other countries like Mexico who is still fighting for them to have the legislation passed. When I communicate with one of the lead advocates for cannabis from Mexico, she always says, wow, you managed to get that far? And like you're saying it's probably dead but I don't believe it is dead, Jules. I think that whenever the government can afford to have a referendum, whether it's on this issue or oil drilling or both combined, I am confident that the the legislation will pass after that referendum because I believe that vote would be "yes.""
