Saint Lucia considers legalizing cannabis

Reform of Cannabis Laws continues its momentum in the Caribbean. Saint Lucia, the island closest to the southern tip of Martinique, has launched a national consultation on the cultivation of cannabis for domestic use and for export.

Currently, the mere possession of cannabis in Saint Lucia is punishable in part by fines of up to 20,000$ to avoid a prison sentence of five to ten years.

These consultations follow a report shared last month with the country's Cabinet of Ministers from the Cannabis Commission established by the government, which is exploring «various models for the way forward» regarding cannabis reforms, including legalization.

«My colleagues agreed that we are in a period where we need to take a different approach,» he declared Bradley Felix, Minister of Commerce, addressed members of the House of Assembly on June 26 during the debate on the country’s 2020 budget. «We have concluded that the prohibition of cannabis has been ineffective in reducing its use,» he added, citing the significant economic and operational costs associated with the ban.

The Commission’s report, titled «An Economic Analysis of the Regulation of the Cannabis Industry in Saint Lucia,» which has not yet been made public, comes just under a year after the government agreed to establish the Commission to examine the impact of the reform on the island, particularly on tourism and the economy.

Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, emphasized the need to provide opportunities for the country’s citizens by supporting both domestic production and exports.

«Are we going to allow foreign investors to come in and use our farmers as laborers, or are we going to produce the goods ourselves?» he requested.

«As far as cannabis is concerned,» Chastanet said, the government is looking to focus on pharmaceutical or value-added products rather than simply producing raw materials. These products, he explained, will provide «greater economic opportunity» for the island.

If Saint Lucia moves forward with legalization, it would join the Bahamas, Bermuda and U.S. Virgin Islands, other islands in the region that are considering legalizing adult use.