Antigua and Barbuda strives to create the most inclusive cannabis industry in the Caribbean

The government of’Antigua and Barbuda reiterated its intention to shape a sector of the medical marijuana based on local empowerment, careful regulation and cultural respect.

At a stakeholder dialogue organized by the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA), the managers have presented a new roadmap for the development of medical cannabis on the island.

A market designed for local communities

Addressing the sector's stakeholders, the Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin emphasized that the administration's aim was to redirect the industry's profits to people who have traditionally been left out by foreign investors.

«I want to make it clear that my government [...] is fully committed to ensuring that the economic benefits of this industry accrue to the people of Antigua and Barbuda as a whole, and not just to land investors,» he said, urging participants to «ensure that their slice of the pie is a big one».

The move comes as authorities acknowledge that previous economic initiatives in the country often concentrated gains in the hands of large operators. The government now intends to ensure that this trend «comes to an end», with the new cannabis regulatory framework serving as a corrective model.

New licensing models to broaden access

The MCA is currently evaluating innovative licensing formats to make the sector more accessible. According to remarks made by Crown Counsel Jeniece St. Romain on behalf of the MCA Chairman, the’ambassador Daven Joseph, These include micro-culture licenses, and wellness and tourism licenses and community cooperative structures.

At the beginning of the year, Antigua and Barbuda introduced a collaborative culture license, to encourage collective participation and reduce financial barriers. The Authority has also abolished research and development license fees for a year to stimulate local innovation.

These initiatives aim to diversify the profile of players in the sector, enabling small farmers, community groups and wellness entrepreneurs to enter a market which, in the Caribbean, remains dominated by a handful of large entities.

Cultural recognition and agricultural potential

Benjamin also highlighted the country's pioneering decision to legal recognition of the sacramental use of cannabis, a recognition he described as «a bold and progressive decision for our time, which underscores our respect for culture and spiritual traditions».

He argued that the country's climate and agricultural heritage give it the ability «to provide the highest quality cannabis in the Caribbean». In order to protect local know-how, the government is currently considering the patent legislation to preserve traditional growing methods and locally developed varieties.

This effort is part of a wider initiative to ensure that the economic and cultural value generated by the industry remains within the communities that have long cultivated the plant.

Enforcement remains a central pillar

Despite the emphasis on industry expansion, government officials stressed that public health, and in particular the protection of young people, remained a priority. «I want to be very clear. Even if we promise medical benefits, our government will not give up on enforcement,» Benjamin said.

Concerns about irresponsible consumption were echoed in remarks made on behalf of the MCA President, who stressed the Authority's duty «to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable groups, especially our young people».

Defining limits and tightening regulations

The stakeholder meeting clarified the distinctions between the’sacramental use, l’medical use and the’unregulated commercial activity, A question that becomes increasingly relevant as the local market develops.

Officials reaffirmed that the rights of the Rastafari community must be protected without being commercially exploited. They emphasized that the collaborative license was explicitly designed to support the participation of Rastafarians.

MCA CEO presentations, Regis Burton, from the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kamaria DeCastro, and the agricultural expert, Ika Fergus, In their keynote address to the meeting, Mr. Baudelaire and Mr. Baudelaire highlighted the current challenges facing the sector, including product traceability, enforcement capacity and royalty compliance.

The event also welcomed the keynote speaker, Professor Rosemarie Belle Antoine, which was invited to help identify the strategic measures needed to consolidate the sector's regulatory foundations.

After setting up its first regulatory framework for medical cannabis in 2018-2019, Antigua and Barbuda is now looking to refine its system with updated guidelines, drawn up with input from stakeholders. Benjamin concluded by reaffirming the administration's intention to develop the sector «with prudence, responsibility and inclusiveness».