WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CANADIAN-CARICOM EDM, GOVERNMENT IS WORKING ON LEGISLATION TO GOVERN SAINT LUCIA’S CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

A Regulated Substance Authority Bill will soon be introduced to Saint Lucia’s Parliament. The Bill aims to create a legal framework for regulated substances, including cannabis and cannabis products.

This disclosure was made in Parliament by the Minister of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, Hon. Emma Hippolyte. Once the bill is enacted, she said, “it will create a statutory body responsible for regulating and overseeing regulated substances and will spell another pivotal achievement in the process of cannabis reform.”

The proposed legislation follows several stakeholder meetings led by the Ministry of Commerce that included the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Tourism and representatives from the banking and judiciary sectors. Minister Hippolyte said the process has been difficult, but deliberate, “to avoid pitfalls that other jurisdictions fell into.” It is for this reason that the government also secured the services of an international legal consultant.

“With the assistance of the Canadian CARICOM expert deployment mechanism out of Canada we have attained the services of a consultant to assist with the development of the legal framework for the regulations,” the honorable minister explained.

The Government of Saint Lucia will host a regional symposium on cannabis, to achieve “unified thinking.” The minister said government is committed to developing a vibrant cannabis industry.

Minister Hippolyte thanked the Cannabis Task Force, the Cannabis Commission and The Herbal Cooperative (THC) for their input toward the legislation.