The Saint Lucia government’s point man on cannabis, Commerce Minister Bradley Felix, has announced that authorization has been given to draft a legislative and regulatory framework for cannabis. However, Saint Lucia is still “quite some ways away from having anything on the books.” At a press conference earlier today, Felix told reporters that at Monday’s Cabinet meeting, there was consensus with regards to:
“-authroizing the Ministry of Commerce and the Attorney General’s Chambers to draft the legislative and regulatory framework to assist in the implementation of a cannabis industry. That also included looking at personal, religious and medicinal use.
-we also included in that, for us to look at scientific research and also to setting up a sort of a licensed regime to govern the industry.
-authorization was also given for us to look into the expungement of records of people who had been incarcerated, charged with amounts less than 30 grams, without having a violent attachment to it.”
What happens now?
The minister explained that the next step is for the AG’s Chambers to produce a “draft framework” which will be reviewed by various agencies such as the Bar Association for their feedback. The draft framework will then be submitted to Cabinet for further review and then it will eventually reach Parliament. “So this is where we are, and work has just started as it relates to formalizing that framework,” said Felix.
It remains unclear when the draft framework will be completed. Asked for a timeline, the minister responded: “You know I have learnt that I don’t give timelines because I have gotten in trouble before for giving timelines. But there are several countries in the Caribbean who have passed their own legislative framework so it’s not a matter of reinventing the wheel. As a government, I think what will happen is we will lean on the experiences from the various jurisdictions and identify the one best suited for our country.”
Addressing a voice-note by Chairman of the Cannabis Movement Mr. Andre De Caires, Felix stated that full legalization has not been agreed upon. The minister indicated that he informed De Caires of government’s decision this morning. “I can appreciate that Mr. De Caires in all of his exuberance because Mr. De Caires has been the one who has been at the helm of fighting for a different outlook on the whole cannabis industry for many years,” said Felix. “I guess he jumped ahead and shared information with his colleagues. I noted in the voice-note that he spoke to full legalization. I have since called Mr. De Caires and said I never indicated to you full legalization.”
Felix reminded Saint Lucians that marijuana is still currently illegal and cautioned individuals against breaking the law.
The Ministry of Commerce’s Legal Officer Mr. Dylan Norbert-Inglis, stressed that there is a stark difference between the development of legislation and the development of policy and framework. “We are currently at the stage of the development of policy and framework which will look at the discussions for the matters surrounding cannabis and industry in cannabis,” said Inglis. “So after you have developed a policy and a framework, that goes through your consultative process. You speak to your stakeholders and you determine from there how you will develop your legislation for cannabis. So we are quite some ways away from having anything on the books for cannabis.”
Andre de Caires has since announced his resignation from the Cannabis Movement of Saint Lucia: https://stluciastar.com/breaking-andre-de-caires-resigns/
