Sint-Maarten launches consultation on cannabis legalization

The government of Sint Maarten is seeking proposals from organizations or companies willing to work with the government to create a comprehensive pathway to legal, responsible and viable access to the cannabis industry.

Sint Maarten government paves the way for a legal cannabis industry

The Minister of Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA), Omar Ottley, invites and welcomes proposals to explore a regulated and legalized cannabis industry.

«The aim is to carry out studies on the effects of cannabis legalization before making a decision on how this legalization might be implemented,» the government states. Therapeutic, recreational, scientific and religious uses will be studied.

With this in mind, «Health Minister Oma Ottley is open to all proposals to study the question of a legal cannabis trade. The aim is to receive suggestions from local and international companies who would like to work with the government and ensure that the economic, social and medical aspects can benefit the people of Saint-Martin».

The official launch of the tender begins on September 12, 2022, for a period of 90 days.

All proposals submitted by the submission deadline - December 5, 2022 - will be reviewed and evaluated, based on the information provided in the proposal, as well as the list of deliverables to be included.

As the CannabisIndustrie.nl, the big question now will be whether the Dutch government will follow the example of the United Kingdom, which refused to legalize cannabis in Bermuda. Sint Maarten and the BES islands, also known as the Dutch Caribbean, are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The BES islands would like to model their cannabis policy on that of the Netherlands

The BES islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba had already indicated at the end of 2021 that they wanted recognition to equalize cannabis policy with that of the Netherlands. At the time, the Saba Island Council made this request in a letter to Justice and Security Minister Grapperhaus.

Meanwhile, in August Cannabis Association Bonaire was created. It will lobby the government to make the cannabis industry in Bonaire legal and well-regulated, for both medical and recreational purposes.

In July 2020, a petition had also been launched to legalize cannabis on Bonaire.