The government of Dominica has announced that it is in the process of introducing a law that will allow the creation of its cannabis industry by next year.
Speaking on public radio, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told listeners that his administration would table the relevant legislation in parliament before the end of the year.
Currently, cannabis is already decriminalized in Dominica, up to 28 grams of cannabis for one person and 3 plants per household for self-cultivation.
“We announced in this year’s budget to provide permits and licenses for people who are in the production of cannabis oils, creams and lotions, and soaps because we recognize that there is a certain number of Dominican citizens who suffer from cancer and who use cannabis oil to give them some relief. »
“So we are in the process of setting up the mechanism and the certification, which also involves providing certificates to growers and farmers so that they can plant and grow this plant,” Skerrit said.
He said that earlier this year, with the support of the Canadian government, Dominica received assistance in drafting the necessary legislation to treat cannabis as a medical industry for export…”.
He also said there were a number of processes to follow and Canadians “through a project are helping us with that,” adding that a national committee chaired by Attorney General Levi Peter is looking at the legislation as well as “the various treaties that we have to sign”.
“So we’re making great strides, and I think next year we’ll definitely be able to pass this legislation and have a full-fledged cannabis industry in Dominica, so we can take advantage of the many opportunities to cannabis,” Skerrit said.
Several Caribbean countries, notably Jamaica, Barbados or Saint Kitts and Nevis, have undertaken to establish similar industries.