Cannabis in Virgin Islands for adult use is about to become legal, after medical cannabis is allowed and personal possession is not a crime.
The Virgin Islands Cannabis Act was approved by a veto-proof majority of lawmakers in the U.S. territory just before the start of the new year. According to the Virgin Islands Consortium, the governor is anticipated to sign the legislation into law.
The measure
- legalizes cannabis for people over 21.
- provides for the establishment of a “controlled system for the cultivation, production, and sale of cannabis for adult-use, medical purposes, and ritual usage.”
- enables those who belong to certain religious groups to cultivate up to six mature plants.
- In addition to expunging some marijuana-related offenses, companion legislation does the same, according to senator and bill sponsor Janelle Sarauw.
Possible effects
The bill will create an industry that is “inclusive and diverse, but most importantly, safe,” according to Sarauw, who added that lawmakers “did… due diligence in protecting the masses and the best interests of our residents by ensuring that locals and minorities are not locked out of the industry and have the opportunity to participate in its economic potential.”
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are off the coast of Puerto Rico and have a population of around 106,000, medical cannabis is allowed and personal possession of up to one ounce is not a crime.
In the Virgin Islands, medical cannabis is regulated by the Virgin-Islands Medicinal Cannabis Care Act, which establishes a framework for the production, distribution, and use of medical cannabis. The Act allows for the possession, use, and cultivation of medical cannabis by qualified patients and their caregivers, as long as it is done in accordance with the Act and any regulations that have been issued under it.
To qualify for medical cannabis in the Virgin-Islands, patients must have one of the following qualifying medical conditions: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or any other debilitating medical condition that is approved by the Virgin-Islands Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Council. Patients must also have a recommendation from a licensed medical practitioner and must register with the Virgin Islands Medicinal Cannabis Program in order to obtain and use medical cannabis.
