Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has made it clear that the full legalization of marijuana in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not on the government’s agenda, citing constraints imposed by international conventions.
Speaking during a recent appearance on NBC Radio, Prime Minister Gonsalves stated that while the government has allowed for limited personal use, religious exemptions, and a regulated medicinal cannabis industry, these actions remain within the boundaries of international law.
“What the convention permits is what we have done,” Gonsalves said, referencing global treaties such as the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. “The convention says it can permit small quantities for recreational use, there’s an exemption for persons who want to use it for sacramental or religious purposes, and that you can have a medical cannabis industry—well regulated—which is what we have done.”
The Prime Minister dismissed calls for full legalization as “irresponsible” and warned that such a move would have far-reaching economic and legal consequences, particularly in relation to the international banking system.
“You cannot use the banking system [if marijuana is fully legalized],” he said. “They will cut off corresponding banking relations. Without that, you can’t trade. You can’t get your Western Union money.”
Cannabis in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was previously known to be illegal but is now decriminalized up to 2 ounces.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines launched its Medicinal Cannabis Authority in 2019, following the passage of a comprehensive legislative framework that legalized the cultivation, processing, and export of medicinal cannabis under strict regulatory guidelines. This framework included the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Act, the Cannabis Cultivation (Amnesty) Act, and the Drug Prevention of Misuse (Amendment) Act, all passed in December 2018. These laws paved the way for the creation of a structured industry intended to benefit small-scale traditional cultivators as well as licensed investors.
While public debate on cannabis policy continues across the Caribbean, Gonsalves stressed that his administration will remain guided by international law and the practical implications of straying from it.
