The newly formed Marijuana Commission on Friday held its first meeting to plan the way forward for activities. In a March interview with the STAR, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet announced a decision had been reached to decriminalize cannabis, following which commercial opportunities would be looked into. Then last month Commerce Minister Bradley Felix, the government’s point man on cannabis, announced the formation of a Marijuana Commission mandated to “consult and provide advice on the design of a legislative and regulatory framework for cannabis”.
Felix indicated that $100,000 had been budgeted for the initiative but that this amount might be increased. The Commission is expected to engage in public consultation over a three-month period before reporting to Cabinet. Before Friday’s get-together Minister Felix told the STAR: “We were hoping we would have had an earlier meeting but unfortunately there was a slight delay in everybody sending in their representative. This first meeting is basically going to address logistics, as far as future scheduling of meetings, the structure, where they’ll be held and the whole ‘A-Z’ of how we’ll go forward.”
He added: “As soon as the first meeting is through, the days for public consultation will be established. I cannot pre-empt it. In an effort to expedite the whole process, one of the suggestions is that the Commission can be divided into at least two groups but that has not been finalized.”
The announcement of the Commission has not sat well with chairman of the Cannabis Movement, Mr. Andre de Caires, who has accused the government of stalling. Meanwhile the government insists that the setting up of a cannabis industry must be handled carefully.
Felix disclosed that the Commission includes representatives from the ministries of Commerce, Agriculture, Health, Home Affairs and Equity. Representatives from Invest Saint Lucia, the Christian Council, the Cannabis Movement, the National Youth Council, a nominee from the House Opposition Leader and the Attorney General, or designate, round off the list.
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