USVI Cannabis Advisory Board approves rules for recreational use
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI - “We’ve been waiting a very long time for this,” said Catherine Kean, as the VI Cannabis Advisory Board approved a list of proposed rules and regulations to govern the recreational use of cannabis in the territory.
The approval represents major progress in implementing the law passed in 2022 which legalized the use of cannabis for recreational purposes. Now that this hurdle has been cleared, board members say they expect to see some movement on the issue in the days and weeks to come. A 30-day public comment period, the next stage of the process, is expected to open soon.
The board is also working to complete a list of those convicted of simple cannabis possession who are eligible to have their records expunged. That list will be forwarded to lawmakers and the judiciary within the coming weeks, according to board member Positive Nelson.
Medicinal and sacramental users of cannabis are expected to be allowed to register in April, although the vaunted registry which was supposed to have opened for practitioners and sacramental organizations in January currently appears to be offline, with visitors who follow the link from the Office of Cannabis Regulations website presented with a blank page as of press time.
Hannah Carty, executive director of the Office of Cannabis Regulations, noted that cannabis businesses are expected to be able to register by mid-year, but licenses for cultivation and manufacturing operations may not be granted before the end of 2024. “A lot of things are not within our control,” she explained.
Despite the delays and setbacks, the advisory board was pleased that progress, albeit slow, is being steadily made on creating a legal framework for cannabis use in the territory. “The train is ready to leave the station,” said board member Richard Evangelista.
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15 Responses to “USVI Cannabis Advisory Board approves rules for recreational use”
Nothing for the BVI
The same 'WEED WEED WEED' you are talking about if it can send people to heaven could have saved that young guy over Jost Van Dyke from his seizure or have we forgotten that people are suffering form cannabis treatable illnesses including those on cancer treatment, glaucoma, arthritis and simple depression.
Furthermore this is a dynamic global industry the longer we remain in the dark ages our financial & tourism potential becomes irrelevant.
Yes it will help people grow food because for many it is the gate way to gardening, and if so be it government can mandate you to have a back yard/indoor vegetable garden if you want to grow weed along side it.
MANY MANY MANY are tried of this politicized crap it is not funny and not a simple topic to dismiss. This is where the culture of hiding is continued. Long ago the slaves hide certain things from authority now we repeat the same situation in different form. CMON UK where is the democracy, this was voted on and publicly discussed with feedback.
Though I admit they did not make the law how people want according to the people's feed back. FIX IT and PASS IT.
Of course marijuana don't sees to be a very lie threaten stimulant drugs in the short term, but being taken over a period of time, it is. In addition, it seems to have a addictive effect on the ussers mind for for higher highs, which is in effect, a lower low.
In the BVI there are already too many crazy-head persons, doing and saying too many unhelpful things. We have no no lawful right to tell the US Virgin Islands what to approved or what not to approved, but to the contrary, we have the right to advise, and demand of our political leaders what to, and what not to approved into legislation laws.
And native senior you are mistakenly uninformed. Cannabis has much more than two medicinal 'properties' and much more than merely two cannabinoids that help heal.
The THC you are so against is what helps with glaucoma and depression. CBD is support for seizures and inflammation. Do your research please.
There are too many valid scientific studies to claim the current law is anything else but a remnant of discriminatory practices continued for the sake of having power over our minority.
Also weed is not physically addictive but the cheap tobacco people mix in is very addictive along with the laced weed that is all over the streets.
How would you feel if you carrots, tomatoes, rice in the super market were laced with addictive substances (they usually are laced with pesticides) and you not allowed to grow it yourself to get a clean product as medicine?