On January 19th 2019, newly elected Governor Albert Bryan signed into law the Medicinal Cannabis Patient Care Act (MCPCA).
The MCPCA legalizes medical marijuana, but not recreational, in St Thomas, St John, and St Croix. The US Virgin Islands decriminalized cannabis in 2014.
Governor Bryan explained, “I have approved the Virgin Islands Medicinal Cannabis Care Act because it is a step in the right direction toward assisting Virgin Islanders suffering from autoimmune and other debilitating medical conditions.”
However, the MCPCA needs further refinement before the government can implement it. The governor continued, “It will be essential that further revisions be developed, with professional guidance, in the implementation process, including preparation of Regulations, forms, fees, and procedures; and to undertake necessary amendments to the Bill with the Legislature.”
The MCPCA gives the newly formed Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR) four months to publish the final revision of the rules. This will include all the regulations for the farming, distribution, and selling of marijuana and marijuana products.
After this deadline, the OCR has another three months to begin accepting applications from patients, dispensaries, farms, and manufacturing facilities.
In other words, patients will be able to buy legal cannabis in the USVI in seven months.
For more information on the bill, check out our detailed summary of the MCPCA, along with a breakdown of where the tax money goes.
For more information about getting involved, check out our guides:
