Barbados has officially opened its first medicinal cannabis dispensary, marking a significant milestone in the development of the industry.
Island Therapeutics Inc. received the send-off on Friday evening at a ceremony at its Worthing, Christ Church location, attended by a cross-section of society, including government ministers and members of the medical, academic and Rastafarian communities.
Co-owner Kevin Hudson described the occasion as a proud moment for both his team and the country.
“Our cannabis is locally grown and dispensed right here from seed to retail with care and purpose at every stage. We built this space with patients in mind, a space where wellness meets professionalism and where each person who walks through our doors is met with respect, knowledge and compassion.
“We are no longer just consumers. Today, we are participants, contributors and pioneers in shaping something we can truly call our own.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA), Shanika Roberts-Odle, described the new facility as part of a carefully regulated environment and assured the public that it is operating to the appropriate standards.
“Make no mistake. I am a Barbadian. Mr. Hudson is a Barbadian and never would we want to do anything that would [bring] Barbados into disrepute or public health in danger. That means that the cannabis here has been cultivated to proper standards, tested to the extent that we possibly could and should be used in a safe and responsible manner.”
She clarified that medicinal cannabis is not available for casual or walk-in purchases.
“The laws in Barbados are clear. Medicinal use of cannabis is legal. You can access it by prescription from a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. Recreational use of cannabis is not,” she said.
“We understand the rise in crime, and we understand the rise in illicit substance use. We have been heavily engaged, and we want to be even more heavily engaged with the National Council on Substance Abuse… If you are under the age of 18, medicinal cannabis is not for you if your doctor has not decided in a very slim situation that you should have access. Outside of that, under the age of 18, please stay away from all forms of cannabis, medicinal and otherwise.”
Roberts-Odle noted that while a comprehensive framework has been created to guide the industry, legislation must remain flexible and responsive.
“Nothing can be written in stone when you’re dealing with a plant that we are only now continuing to revel in its revelations. Hence, nothing can be so firmly entrenched that we cannot evolve,” she said.
“The legislation must always be evolving so that we are never playing catch-up to the rest of the world but instead, hopefully, leading it with science and education.”
“We can no longer be rooted in fearmongering; we can no longer accept misinformation. For 50 years, Barbadians have been told this is dope; stay away from it. It is only now that we are coming to understand that there is good use, decent use, and medical use in this.”
Since the passage of the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill in 2019, the BMCLA has approved at least 11 licensees, with a combined total of 30 licences issued across various areas of the industry.
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