Scope of Work
The Commission will consult on issues fundamental to the design of a new legislative and regulatory framework for restricted cannabis use and will undertake the following scope of work:- Review the benefits and adverse effects of cannabis both in the Caribbean and other States.
- Examine the Drugs [Prevention of Misuse] Act and other legislation as they pertain to cultivation, manufacturing, utilization, possession and distribution of cannabis and outline the legal status of cannabis.
- Review available date on cannabis use by type: therapeutic, industrial, recreational and socio-cultural
- Examine global trends in the regulatory framework on accessibility and availability of cannabis, with particular attention to the legal and administrative systems that have been developed to accommodate:
- Possession of small, specified quantities of cannabis for personal use
- Licensed therapeutic and medical cannabis programs.
- Engage in an extensive consultation process with members of communities and other key stakeholder to elicit the perceptions on current usage, perceived benefits and harms and resistance of support for the reformation of laws on cannabis. This consultation process should use surveys, structured and semi structures interviews, focus groups, community meetings and other methodologies and should include a broad cross section of interest groups in society including but not limited to:
- Researchers
- Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association
- Cannabis growers and sellers
- Drug treatment and rehabilitation service providers
- Faith based organizations
- People who use cannabis therapeutically
- Recreational users
- Representatives from the legal and judicial system
- Psychiatrists/mental health practitioners
- Educators
- Law enforcement and custodian services
- Youth
- Examine incarceration pattern in St. Lucia as a result of cannabis.
- Examine mental health disorders in St. Lucia attributed to cannabis use.
- Review the state of research on industrial and therapeutic/medical cannabis products.
- Examine the economic benefits that may accrue as a result of a regulated cannabis industry in St. Lucia.
- Present a final report to the Government of St. Lucia at the end of the consultation period. The report should include:
- The design of a legislative and regulatory framework on cannabis
- Other legal and administrative changes that would be required
Our Process
