The US Virgin Islands is moving forward with stalled marijuana legalization

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The stalled marijuana law in the U.S. Virgin Islands got a big boost Tuesday after an advisory board approved a list of proposed rules and regulations governing the territory's recreational use of cannabis.

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The board's vote was a major step toward implementing a law approved more than a year ago to allow recreational use on the three islands. A 30-day public comment period on the proposed rules and regulations is scheduled to begin soon.

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“We've been waiting for this for a long time,” said Dr. Catherine Keane, chair of the advisory board.

The board is also finalizing the list of people it deems eligible to have their convictions expunged for lawful possession of common cannabis. The list will be shared with lawmakers, the island's Supreme Court and others in the coming weeks, board member Positive Nelson said.

In the US Virgin Islands, over the past 20 years, about 300 people have been convicted of simple possession of marijuana.

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The board's executive director, Hannah Carthy, said the board is also finalizing a registration system that people who use cannabis for medicinal or sacred purposes are expected to have access to in April.

Religious and faith-based organizations must pay $200 to register every two years, while doctors are charged $250, officials said.

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Businesses can register in June or July, Karti said, adding that the government has completed the RFP process for seed sales operations. However, cultivation and production licenses will not be issued until the end of the year, he said.

“A lot of things are out of our control,” Carthy said.

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Although the US territory legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes in 2019, legalized recreational use in January 2023 stalled for several reasons, including the wording of the bill and insufficient members for a quorum on the Cannabis Advisory Council.

The law allows adults 21 and older to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, half an ounce of cannabis concentrate and 1 ounce of edibles for recreational, sacred and other purposes.

Medical marijuana users are allowed up to 4 ounces of cannabis, 1 ounce of concentrate and 2 ounces of product.

Although medical marijuana patients are exempt, all dispensary sales are subject to a minimum 18% tax. Three-quarters of the tax revenue is expected to go to the general fund. Of that, 15% goes to behavioral health, 5% to homelessness and 5% to youth programs.

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Nelson asked if a specific card would be issued for marijuana users: “For OG. I thought about that,” he said as the other board members smiled.

Karti said patients receive digital IDs that they can save on their phones or print out.

The US Virgin Islands are the latest in the Caribbean to relax marijuana laws. Antigua has decriminalized marijuana use for the general public, while Jamaica has decriminalized small amounts of pot.

In addition, the Bahamas has begun debating several bills to legalize marijuana for medical and religious purposes and to decriminalize possession of small amounts.

Members of the U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Council have celebrated their success.

“The train is ready to leave the station,” board member Richard Evangelista said. “All passengers on board.”

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