US Virgin Islands lawmakers pass law legalizing cannabis

Lawmakers in the US Virgin Islands passed legislation legalizing recreational marijuana last week, bringing the number of states and territories in the country that have legalized adult use of cannabis to 21. The bill passed the U.S. Virgin Islands Senate on December 30 with a veto-proof majority of 11-1. According to media reports, Gov. Albert Bryan, who has expressed strong support for cannabis policy reform, is expected to sign the bill into law.

The law was passed in conjunction with another bill overturning previous convictions for marijuana-related offenses, which senators passed unanimously on Friday.

Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw, the sponsor of the recreational marijuana legalization bill, said the legislation was a concerted effort by proponents who had overcome resistance to sweeping cannabis policy reform.

“Although there have been many politically motivated false narratives about this cannabis legislation, I am proud of the work of the 34 session senators,” Sarauw said in a press release posted on Facebook. “The panel has fulfilled its duty of care to protect the masses and best interests of our residents by ensuring that local and minority communities are not excluded from the industry and have an opportunity to participate in its economic potential.”

Senators worked throughout the holiday to finalize the law

Senators reportedly worked over the Christmas break to address some concerns about the proposed legislation, eventually making some changes to the measure’s language in an amended version of the legislation.

“It got moot, we almost went to war over cannabis,” Sarauw said jokingly in a statement cited by the Virgin Islands Consortium, adding that “every single change, every single proposal by members in the change is kind of a change replacement is included.”

Possession of up to one ounce of cannabis was decriminalized in the US Virgin Islands by a law passed in 2014, and in 2019 the territorial legislature passed legislation authorizing the medicinal use of marijuana. Under the bill passed last week, residents and visitors to the Caribbean island territory will be able to purchase adult-use cannabis and medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries.

“There are so many provisions in this bill across disciplines that once implemented and enforced with fidelity, the territory will see an inclusive and diverse, but most importantly, safe industry,” Sarauw said in the release. “I hope that the current government will fully implement both medical and adult use for the benefit of people in this area.”

Regulations are yet to come in the Virgin Islands

Though the law passed by a veto-proof majority and has the support of the territory’s governor, Sarauw noted that lawmakers have yet to enact regulations regulating marijuana cultivation and sales, steps necessary before a regulated cannabis industry can begin a legalized economy.

“Cannabis will be on the governor’s desk in no time, and we’ve done absolutely nothing to advance cannabis,” she said. “We yell, I’m being attacked in debates about cannabis and it’s going to be on the governor’s desk – rules and regulations haven’t been promulgated, no seal-to-seal tracking system, nothing has moved in this industry.”

The law was passed early Friday morning during the last legislative session in which Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory served as Senate President for the 34th legislative session. She expressed her support for the measure, noting that the governor and 11 of the territory’s 15 senators had traveled to Denver to learn about issues related to cannabis legalization.

“It would be irresponsible not to move this legislation up or down in the 34th legislature, no matter what decision we make tonight, because we’ve spent government money,” Frett-Gregory said.