The government of the island nation of Saint Lucia is keen to build a cannabis industry – medical, recreational and also industrial hemp.
Saint Lucia is situated in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean, northwest of Barbados. It’s a small country, both in terms of size (617 km2) and population (estimated 180,000 people in 2018).
The country has a fairly laid back approach to cannabis, with its use decriminalized on September 14, 2021 for up to 30 grams. The criminal records of those who had been previously prosecuted for the possession of 30 grams of cannabis or less were expunged.
Pressure from the Rastafarian community was a major driver of the change – Rastafarians use marijuana as part of their religious practices. Prime Minister Philip J Pierre even extended an apology to the community for “immense suffering” Rastafarians endured over the decades under previous laws.
Formal recreational/medical cannabis and industrial hemp programs in have been in the works for some years. A cannabis task force was set up and Saint Lucia has been working with other Caribbean nations on how best to go about establishing local industries.
In a meeting organized by the Transnational Institute in 2022, representatives from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia discussed (among other things) about pushing the “green climate agenda” in relation to cannabis; highlighting advantages of growing cannabis outdoors in the region – which can occur all year round – without carbon impact of indoor cultivation.
The work in Saint Lucia has culminated in the Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs recently submitting a draft Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Bill 2025.
The bill is wide ranging, covering issues including:
- Appointing a Cannabis Advisory Council.
- Providing licences to conduct cannabis or industrial hemp activity.
- To provide for a dispensary licence and the sale of medicinal cannabis.
- To provide for the imposition of a cannabis or industrial hemp levy.
- Prohibitions against the import, export, supply, possession and use of synthetic cannabinoids.
- Various other offences relating to cultivation, possession, consumption and commercial activities.
Public comment on the bill has been invited, with feedback due by Friday 7th February, 2025.
