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Positive Nelson prevented from serving on USVI Cannabis Board

- Lawmakers vote down bid citing local code
October 11th, 2019 | Tags: Positive Nelson USVI cannabis marijuana
Former USVI senator, Positive Nelson. Photo: VI Consortium
VI CONSORTIUM

ST. THOMAS, USVI - Senators who make up the Committee on Rules and Judiciary on Thursday, October 10, 2019, held in committee, the nomination of Positive Nelson to serve on the Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board.

Mr. Nelson, a former senator, was the chief reason medicinal marijuana became legal in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the measure was approved during his tenure as a lawmaker. This presented a problem for his nomination to the board, according to lawmakers, who cited Virgin Islands Code that forbids past senators from serving on a board of any office that was established during their tenure.

Separately, senators raised concerns about the federal implications of transporting marijuana inter-island. “The inter-island transportation of medicinal cannabis in federal zones can lead to legal problems for our residents,” said Senator Janelle Sarauw, chair of the committee.

Senator Kenneth Gittens added, “It is important that law-abiding Virgin Islanders do not end up on the wrong side of the law who are employed in the medicinal cannabis industry.”

Mr. Nelson told his former colleagues that only authorized commercial vessels with legal documentation can transport medicinal cannabis. However, the law remains that it is illegal for a private vessel to transport marijuana into U.S. waters — including U.S. territories. Mr. Nelson’s was one of two Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Board nominees voted on Thursday.

The other nominee, V.I. Department of Health Assistant Commissioner Nicole Craigwell-Syms, was voted on favorably by lawmakers.

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