Trinidad and Tobago approves cannabis for medicinal and religious purposes

The Caribbean Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has released its plans to legalize and regulate cannabis for medicinal, religious and research purposes, the NewsWeed. Activists are now calling for the registration of those convicted under the ban to be eliminated and limits set on foreign participation, so that indigenous people and local producers also have opportunities in the new industry.

After several years of delays, the passage of the new legislation will create the Cannabis Licensing Authority, a body that will govern licenses for the cultivation, distribution, sale, import and export of medical cannabis. The cannabis control bill, first introduced by the country's Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, in 2019, established a small mixed parliamentary committee, made up of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Committee members cited “the complexity of the bill” and the need to engage in “consultations with cannabis authorities in the region” to explain the long delay in passing the measure. The legislative group recommended that a list of 25 amendments be made to the initial bill.

The main recommendation is to focus measures on regulatory compliance and transparency in the industry. The amended bill also includes a special category of licenses, which will regulate the cultivation, distribution and transport of cannabis for religious purposes.

However, reform advocates expressed concern about some of the recommendations, and called for social justice for all those convicted of the ban, calling for policies that ensure the most affected groups can participate in the emerging industry.

According to Al Rawi, who chaired the committee, the most important thing is “to make sure we diversify our economy. This cannabis control bill is great news for us, because it will introduce the concept of marketing from seed to product," the prosecutor told NewsWeed.

Activists call for limits on foreign participation

The bill allows for up to 70% of ownership in local cannabis companies to be foreign, one of the highest shareholdings in the region. However, activists like Nazma Muller, who advocate stronger local representation, want the thresholds to be similar to Jamaica's, which sets foreign ownership in cannabis companies at a maximum of 49%. Muller says tighter ownership agreements can guarantee indigenous farmers' rights and will give locals greater control over this industry. Reducing foreign ownership will protect the industry from future shocks in the global market.

Activist Nazma Muller, at a rally for the legalization of cannabis in Trinidad and Tobago. Photo: Christopher Samlal | Cannabis Wire

"We don't want international companies to come with their money in their pockets and control our industry," said Nazma Muller in an interview with cannabis wire. Muller also argues that regulators need to provide clearer paths for smallholders or those exiting the illegal market, creating micro-licenses for cultivation and processing, such as sub-30-dollar permits, as in Jamaica, specifically aimed at indigenous producers. In this regard, Al-Rawi believes that the wording of the draft law, which requires local ownership of at least XNUMX% of all licenses granted, with the exception of research, development and laboratory licenses, will limit the problems pointed out by critics of the legislation. He says, however, that large foreign companies may already have the experience necessary for Trinidad and Tobago to be competitive in the export of cannabis and cannabis-derived products. Several civil society groups, such as All Mansions of Rastafari, have warned, however, that the recommendations fail to create conditions in the industry for those affected by the past ban.

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