CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Bill No. 34-0345, An Act expanding the legalization of cannabis from medicinal use to include Adult Use Cannabis, and Bill No. 34-0344, An Act amending title 5 chapter 314 section 3731 et seq. of the Virgin Islands Code, to expunge the criminal records of persons convicted for marijuana related crimes and offenses has passed Legislative Session with a vote of, as amended, 11 yeas, one nay, three absent and 12 yeas, zero nays, three absent respectively.
After numerous industry and stakeholder meetings, informational forums, a Legislative Cannabis
Summit in Colorado, and tussles with legal counsel (both internal and external), Legislators still
spent the days leading up to today’s session in working meetings to discuss the adult use cannabis
legislation. The deliberative meetings, some lasting up to eight hours at a time, culminated with a
palpable amended document of which the members were comfortable voting upon.
“The meetings hosted by my office over the Christmas holidays really brought this legislation over the top,” Senator Sarauw said. “The opportunity to deliberate on the bill openly and collaboratively – it’s intents, the parameters necessary because of our geographic make-up and enforcement limitations – all without the time constraints of an actual hearing, was paramount to the finalization of the legislation. Everyone’s concerns were heard and addressed in those meetings. Even Senators that were known ‘No’ votes, participated, in an effort to ensure that if the bill passed, it would address those warranted concerns.”
One of the lessons learned on the trip to Colorado during the Legislative Cannabis Summit was
that the industry costs a lot more [in both human and financial resources] when it’s not structured
and implemented properly. Industry experts told of mistakes different states made, the
consequences of those mistakes, and the corrective measures being taken to rectify them.
“To ignore those lessons would be foolish,” stated Senator Sarauw.
Consequently, the 110-page legislation on adult use cannabis saw consorted efforts placed on the social equity and enforcement components. The adult use legislation now contains provisions for opportunities for those that have been ostracized by cannabis for so long, as well as those who may have otherwise been overlooked for inclusion in the industry for one reason or the other. This version of the bill supports a variety of local opportunities, void of special interests, she said.