In an important decision, the V.I. Cannabis Advisory Board unanimously voted during its regular monthly meeting Wednesday to allow individuals to obtain both medical and sacramental registrations for cannabis use.
This dual registration allows individuals to cultivate up to six flowering plants and six immature plants for both medical and sacramental purposes under the Virgin Islands cannabis regulations.
The board had previously been unable to vote on the matter because it did not have a full quorum. However, with all members present this week, the vote was successfully carried out, marking a significant step in expanding access within the evolving cannabis program.
During the meeting, V.I. Health Department Commissioner Justa Encarnacion raised a thoughtful question regarding the potential impact of cannabis availability on both medical outcomes and financial well-being. “I don’t know from a medicinal standpoint in terms of the usage for medicinal purposes. I don’t know how much that is versus what is there to be sold. How is that going to affect someone who is trying to survive cancer, as well as have monetary gain from it so that they can survive financially as well? What is that impact?” she asked.
Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Regulations, Joanne Moorehead, responded by explaining that the cultivation process and plant characteristics may differ depending on the intended use — medicinal or sacramental. “There is potential that there is a difference in the plants that you might grow if you’re using it medicinally versus sacramentally, in terms of the potency of the plant, and in terms of the concentration of CBD or THC. Certainly, because we know that, generally speaking, CBD has more higher medicinal value. So, you very likely would grow different plants if that were the two distinct purposes,” she said.
Chair of the board, Dr. Catherine Kean, emphasized that while the six-and-six allotment remains in place, the board may revisit this limit in the future once the program is further developed. “Six months to a year, perhaps we could come back and reassess that allotment, but I think at this current time, we had decided that it was to remain essentially six and six,” she said.
Board member Dr. Gary Jett echoed the importance of measured use, reminding attendees that a higher dose of cannabis does not necessarily yield better results. “I just want to reiterate that more doesn’t mean better. Just because you have a higher amount of cannabis in your system doesn’t mean that you’ll have a better outcome, because there’s a therapeutic window to reaching the appropriate result that you’re trying to get with the cannabis. I think it’s important to keep that in mind. And I think with the allotted numbers, which is six and six, most individuals can probably reach that therapeutic level.”
In addition to the board’s vote, Moorehead provided a status update on the territory’s cannabis program. As of the meeting, there were one registered patient on St. John, eleven on St. Thomas, and fifteen on St. Croix. Two applications for sacramental organizations have also been received. These organizations must show proof of registration with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and participate in an interview with the Office of Cannabis Regulations to confirm their practices.
Moorehead reminded the public that applications for cultivation licenses are still open and available online. The deadline to apply is June 27, and to be considered complete, applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fee by that date.
Those interested in becoming certified cannabis laboratory testing facilities are encouraged to submit a formal proposal to the Office of Cannabis Regulations. The deadline for submissions is June 23. Proposals must be sent as a single PDF attachment to the email address info.ocr@ocr.vi.gov.
Moorehead also noted that the OCR has conducted several public information sessions to help residents understand the application process and new cannabis policies. For those who were unable to attend, the sessions are available for viewing on YouTube. Additional updates and application details can be found on the OCR’s official website.
Present at the Cannabis Advisory Board meeting were Chair Dr. Catherine Kean, Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Nathalie Hodge, Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion, Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen, Dr. Gary Jett, and board member Chris Jones.
