A series of community consultations to educate and solicit feedback on the legal framework for the establishment of a Medicinal Cannabis Industry here will be conducted this week.
The consultations will be hosted by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour.
The legal framework is comprised of three draft bills.
These include the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill 2018 which has the objective of establishing a Medicinal Cannabis Industry to provide for the lawful access to medicinal cannabis as an alternative treatment for persons who are suffering from a qualifying medical condition; the Cannabis Cultivation (Amnesty) Bill 2018 which provides for an amnesty to grant a reprieve to persons in illegal cultivation of cannabis to transition them into legitimate medicinal cannabis farmers.
And ….the Permitted Use of Cannabis for Religious Purposes Bill 2018 which seeks to provide for decriminalization and not legalization of cannabis for religious purposes.
The Bills are expected to have their first reading when Parliament convenes on Monday August 20, 2018.
The first community consultation is scheduled for tomorrow August 14 at the Diamond Government School commencing at 6:00 pm.
The panel will consist of Dr. Jerrol Thompson, and a representative from the Attorney General’s Chambers.
