'Good progress' being made with UK on advancing Medical Marijuana in VI- Premier
The Virgin Islands Government views the medical marijuana industry as a viable revenue earner option; however, the UK has been stalling the establishment of the industry in the VI, even while the colonial power benefits from the same industry.
The UK, through the Governor’s Office, has given inconsistent excuses for not assenting to the bill.
Good progress being made
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had noted in November 2021; however, that the UK had agreed to talks with the VI on the way forward. The Premier had recently returned from the UK where he attended a Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) meeting.
The matter of establishing a medical cannabis industry in the VI was discussed with UK Minister for Overseas Territories Rt Hon Amanda A. Milling, who was in the VI last week on the invitation of Premier Fahie.
According to a press release from Government on March 22, 2022, Premier Fahie expressed his satisfaction that “good progress is being made by the BVI and UK in advancing medicinal cannabis in the British Virgin Islands” and thanked Minister Milling and her team for helping to move the process forward.
No further details on the discussion were released to the media.
VI missing out on billion-dollar industry
During a statement to the media on February 11, 2022, Premier Fahie had reminded that medicinal marijuana is a billion-dollar industry worldwide now; however, the holdup of the bill is preventing the Virgin Islands from claiming a portion of this market.
“This is a potential new major revenue earner for the territory and no further unnecessary delays can be afforded,” he added.
Premier Fahie had reminded that discussions with the UK should ultimately lead to the VI establishing its medical marijuana industry and begin creating jobs and other revenue opportunities for people as well as creating new entrepreneurs in the VI.
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13 Responses to “'Good progress' being made with UK on advancing Medical Marijuana in VI- Premier”
At least he is persistent cant blame the premier for this delay.
That aside, the UK appears to be a major producer/exporter of medical cannabis and research shows that medical cannabis was legalized in the UK in 2018, though prescriptions issued for it are low. It seems also that a number of Britons may be in possession of Cancards. Further, medical cannabis/CBD is generally not a recreational drug (its THC, Tetrahydrocannabinol, is relatively low), ie, it’s used primarily for medicinal purposes. THC is the recreational drug that people used to get ‘high.’ Research also shows that the medical cannabis business is booming. Why is the Governor not giving assent to the medical marijuana bill?
Moreover, the last time the Crown refused to give assent to a bill in the UK was in 1707 under the reign of Queen Anne in regards to the Scottish Militia. In the UK, the crown readily gives assent to bills duly passed by Parliament. Nevertheless, the Crown Rep in the VI refuses to give assent to some bills passed by the people’s duly elected HOA. Is it that the HOA is inept at crafting bills or is it hypocrisy, a double standard? Or is it something else, something sinister altogether? The anachronistic process of approving bills passed by the HOA should be an item on the agenda for the next constitutional review.