Is Marijuana Legal in Saint Lucia?

Cannabis has been decriminalized in the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia for personal use. In August 2021, the country’s legislators voted unanimously to pass the Criminal Records and Rehabilitation Amendment Bill, which expunges the criminal records of people convicted of the possession of 30 grams of cannabis or less.

In September 2021, the island’s Prime Minister, Philip J Pierre, announced that St. Lucia would update the Misuse of Drugs Act to decriminalize the personal private use of 30 grams of cannabis or less. The Prime Minister also announced that more comprehensive regulations and legislation for the marijuana industry would come later.

Marijuana Laws in Saint Lucia

2021 marked a watershed year for cannabis reform in St Lucia. The country’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, rolled out two major legislative amendments that changed the Caribbean island’s relationship with cannabis.

The Criminal Records and Rehabilitation Amendment Bill expunged individuals with criminal charges for the possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana. The amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act that came soon after decriminalized the personal use of small quantities of 30 grams of cannabis or less.

However, the decriminalization of weed came with conditions. Cannabis consumption is not allowed in public places, such as restaurants or bars. People who use it in such places may be fined up to $1,500. Individuals under 13 who are found in possession of weed will have to participate in a drug counseling program.

However, Pierre, whose 2021 campaign platform included extensive cannabis reform, has indicated that more cannabis-related changes are in the works. For starters, the prime minister has also alluded to a public education campaign that would include prevention and harm reduction strategies.

As outlined in St. Lucia’s 2019 cannabis commission report, the country is moving towards the creation of a fully-fledged recreational and medicinal cannabis industry. The cannabis commission report stipulates that the legalization of marijuana could contribute to new jobs and a vibrant industry that benefits both small farmers and business owners and creates jobs.

The recent development of a Cannabis Task Force has also seen the country begin conversations about how medical cannabis might be regulated in Saint Lucia. At present, suggestions have been made about separating cannabis into two classes:

• Class one cannabis products would include cannabidiol (CBD) products or cannabis products that fall below a certain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) threshold.
• Class two cannabis products would include those with a higher concentration of THC.

Class one products would be available without a prescription, while class two products would require a prescription and only be available at class two dispensaries.

What to Know about Cannabis in Saint Lucia

Since ushering in cannabis-related reforms in 2021, Saint Lucia is quickly changing its relationship with cannabis. Apologies have been made to the Rastafarian population for inhibiting their sacramental use of the plant, and the Caribbean nation is working closely alongside its neighbors to develop a sustainable marijuana industry.

Rastafarians in Saint Lucia Can Now Freely Use Cannabis

Cannabis represents a sacrament for the Rastafarian religion. Approximately 2% of the island’s community openly identifies as Rastafarian. In the past, Rastafarian people in St. Lucia have been hesitant to use marijuana in their religious practices due to prohibition. At one point, the Rastafarian community even threatened to sue the government for breaching their constitutional right to use cannabis for sacramental purposes.

However, now that cannabis use has been decriminalized, Rastafarian people in Saint Lucia can use weed legally without fear of being criminalized. In 2021, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre extended an apology to the Rastafarian community for the suffering they had endured for decades under Saint Lucia’s former punitive cannabis laws.

The 2019 Cannabis Commission Report also recommends that Rastafarians be permitted to grow the herb in the surroundings of their churches for use in their religious ceremonies without requiring a license for cultivation.

Saint Lucia Is Working with Other Caribbean Countries on a Cannabis Agenda

In October 2022, academics, policymakers, and activists from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Lucia gathered in Saint Lucia to talk about cannabis policy in the region.

The group agreed that cannabis cultivation in Caribbean countries could support a green climate agenda. Cannabis can be grown in the region outdoors throughout the year in a sustainable way without leaving a high carbon footprint. To grow high-quality outdoor cannabis and contribute to positive cannabis-related change in the future, the group agreed that further cannabis research needs to be undertaken and that specific standards should be established and adopted.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Saint Lucia?

According to the Saint Lucia Cannabis Commission Report that outlines the regulatory framework for the decriminalization of cannabis in Saint Lucia, each household will be allowed to cultivate six organically grown cannabis plants. However, as the country’s law currently stands, individuals are presently restricted to four cannabis plants per household in certain circumstances.

Saint Lucia is also busy establishing a Cannabis Task Force that will develop guidelines for marijuana cultivation in Saint Lucia. According to the Deputy Chairperson of the Cannabis Task Force, Dylan Norbert-Inglis, small-scale cannabis farmers will be able to apply for a traditional cultivation license that will allow up to three acres of weed to be cultivated.

Non-nationals and large-scale growers will be able to apply for up to ten licenses for bigger operations.

The Bottom Line

In 2021, Saint Lucia passed two major cannabis reforms. The first bill expunged individuals with criminal records for the possession of 30 grams of cannabis or less. The second amendment decriminalized the personal private use of small quantities of 30 grams of cannabis or less.

The Saint Lucian government is also planning the rollout of a public education campaign, medical marijuana program, and legalizing the cultivation of weed on the island. However, these initiatives are still in the process of being developed.