The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour in collaboration with the Ministry of Legal Affairs will be conducting a series of community consultations to educate and solicit feedback on the legal framework for the establishment of a Medicinal Cannabis Industry here.
The legal framework is comprised of three draft bills:
- The Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill 2018 which has the objective of establishing a Medicinal Cannabis Industry to provide for the lawful access to medicinal cannabis as an alternative treatment for persons who are suffering from a qualifying medical condition.
- The Cannabis Cultivation (Amnesty) Bill 2018 which provides for an amnesty to grant a reprieve to persons in illegal cultivation of cannabis to transition them into legitimate medicinal cannabis farmers and
- The Permitted Use of Cannabis for Religious Purposes Bill 2018 which seeks to provide for decriminalization and not legalization of cannabis for religious purposes.
The Bills are expected to have their first reading when Parliament convenes on Thursday September 6th, 2018.
Community consultation meetings continues tomorrow Tuesday August 21st, 2018 in South Rivers at the South Rivers Learning Resource Centre and Thursday August 23rd, 2018 in Barrouallie at the Barrouallie Learning Resource Centre.
Each meeting commences at 6:00 pm. Consultations are expected to be held in other communities within St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The panel will consist of Dr. Jerrol Thompson, and a representative from the Attorney General’s Chambers.
An invitation is extended to the public in these communities to participate in the discussions.
