Policy Recommendations Virgin Islands

2020-21 Improvements and Recommendations

USVI did not have a medical cannabis law before 2019, although voters did approve a non-binding referendum supporting medical cannabis in 2014. In early 2019, the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands signed the Virgin Islands Medicinal Cannabis Care Act to allow patients to possess and obtain cannabis for medicinal purposes. Two years have passed since this law was signed, yet patients in the territory still do not have access to cannabis due to administrative and regulatory failures. ASA recommends that USVI extends medical cannabis access to minors as they are the only state or territory who extends access to adults but not to children. There is no evidence that extending medical cannabis access to minors increases their likelihood for abuse. Lawmakers should also consider allowing retailers to offer delivery and curbside pickup to patients. These measures were implemented across the country and were immensely popular to the extent that many states made them permanent.