Jacana

About Jacana

Jacana operates as a vertically integrated botanical wellness company, specializing in sun-grown, organic cannabis for the medical and wellness markets.

The company was founded in 2018 by Jamaican serial entrepreneur Alexandra Chong. Drawing on her Jamaican heritage and firsthand observation of cannabis's therapeutic uses, Chong identified an opportunity to cultivate medical cannabis legally in Jamaica's ideal equatorial climate following the country's decriminalization in 2015. Prior to Jacana, Chong founded the dating intelligence app Lulu, which she sold to Badoo in 2016. This entrepreneurial background, combined with an early interest in the cannabis sector as an angel investor, informed her vision for Jacana. A significant milestone was achieved in early 2019 when Jacana completed the first-ever international export of medical cannabis flower from Jamaica to Canada, a move linked to a $20 million funding round. The company has since expanded its distribution and retail footprint, including opening several dispensary locations in Jamaica and launching its CBD wellness products in the U.S. market in late 2023.

Jacana's business model is built on a 'seed-to-store' approach, controlling the entire production chain from cultivation to distribution. The company operates a 100-acre (4.4 million sq ft) organic farm in St. Ann, Jamaica, leveraging the region's natural microclimate to grow cannabis with lower carbon emissions compared to indoor facilities. Revenue is generated through multiple channels: the sale of its branded medical cannabis and wellness products through its own dispensaries and over 70 distribution partners in Jamaica, international wholesale of medical cannabis flower and extracts to markets like Europe, and direct-to-consumer online sales of its CBD collection in the U.S. The company also offers unique 'ganja farm tours' at its facility, providing an additional revenue stream and brand-building experience.

The product portfolio is segmented to target specific consumer needs. For the medical cannabis market, products include flower, pre-rolls, and vaporizers, categorized into collections like 'Joy' (Sativa), 'Peace' (Indica), and 'Passion' (Hybrid) to guide user experience. In the wellness space, Jacana offers a CBD-based collection which includes balms, body oils, CBD oils, and lubricants, initially available in luxury spas and now directly to U.S. consumers. A key differentiator is the brand's emphasis on Jamaican provenance, marketing its sun-grown, organic products as a natural and sustainable alternative to artificially manufactured pharmaceuticals.