Dominica wants to decriminalize cannabis purchases locally

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced during his presentation of the 2022/2023 national budget that the island's Parliament may soon ask to authorize the sale of cannabis-derived products, without giving an exhaustive list of the products concerned, as well as legalizing locally the sale and purchase of cannabis for the production of these items.

«During this fiscal year, as work continues on the new legislative framework, we will introduce legislation in the House, to allow agro-processors engaged in the manufacture of cannabis by-products to purchase cannabis locally,» said the country's leader. «Agro-processors will need to be licensed by the Commissioner of Police and other regulatory bodies. In addition, we will decriminalize the sale of cannabis by-products such as locally produced balms, oils and creams.»

According to Roosevelt Skerrit, plans are also in place for the development of the medical cannabis industry in Dominica.

«A technical committee comprising a wide range of stakeholders has been appointed by Cabinet and is studying the important elements required for the success of the medical marijuana« , a declared Roosevelt Skerrit, who is also Minister of Finance and Investment.

Dominica, a small island between Guadeloupe and Martinique, decriminalized cannabis in November 2020. Dominiquais can possess up to 28 grams of cannabis for adults aged 18 and over, and are allowed to grow up to 3 plants at home.

The island follows the’Caribbean orientation which are, country after country, reforming their cannabis legislation, with pressure to decriminalize or legalize, for example, the Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.