As Barbados prepares to host CARIFESTA XV later this month, the island finds itself once again at the centre of a complex and unresolved debate: how should it treat cannabis use, not just within its borders, but when the world comes calling?
CARIFESTA is more than a festival. It is a cultural gathering of the region’s artists, thinkers, and creatives, many of whom use cannabis recreationally or ritually as part of their lifestyle, spirituality, or creative process. Yet, despite the shifting cannabis policies across the Caribbean and internationally, Barbados is drawing a hard line: no exemptions, no importation, no use — even for visiting artists.
The issue was recently raised in the local media, prompting a clear response from Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA), Shanika Roberts-Odle, who reiterated that recreational use remains illegal.
Only medicinal cannabis, legally prescribed by a licensed doctor and approved by the Chief Medical Officer, may be accessed through licensed pharmacies. Sacramental use is also tightly controlled under the Attorney General’s oversight. Roberts-Odle stressed that there will be no special dispensations for CARIFESTA visitors, regardless of what is legal in their home countries.
This strict policy, while legally sound, exposes a deep and growing contradiction in Barbados’ approach to cannabis. On one hand, the government supports a budding medicinal cannabis industry, touting its potential economic benefits. On the other, it maintains restrictions on recreational use, while at the same time allowing people to smoke small amounts without facing criminal charges but fines of $250.
Paul Ras Simba Rock of the Afrikan Heritage Foundation questioned why foreigners can apply for special approval to bring in medicinal cannabis, yet Barbadians still face legal penalties for personal use. Why are the cultural and spiritual practices of visitors being scrutinised more gently than those of locals? Why is the economic pursuit of cannabis embraced, while cultural and recreational use are criminalised?
Other CARICOM nations have made bold moves. Jamaica decriminalised small amounts, allowing households to grow up to five plants. St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and others have followed suit. Barbados, by contrast, has done little beyond making possession under 15 grammes a ticketable offence.
Some strongly argue that this is about fairness, consistency, and cultural recognition. At CARIFESTA, many creatives will arrive from more progressive jurisdictions where cannabis is not just tolerated but embraced as part of the artistic and social landscape.
The government’s position seems increasingly unsustainable, especially when paired with its push to attract cannabis investors and industry players. More people are asking, “How can the country justify promoting cannabis as a commodity, while punishing others for using it?”
At the same time, there is growing discontent among those who abhor the use of any mind-altering substances, such as marijuana, and feel as though their concerns are being ignored. They lament the widespread smoking of weed and the impact this is having on young people.
Roberts-Odle acknowledged that the cannabis industry in Barbados is due for “evaluation and adjustment”. She sought to distance cannabis from the root causes of violent crime. We are, however, not convinced of the effectiveness of that argument as turf wars, reportedly over guns and drugs, are playing out right before our eyes.
At the same time, her distinction between pure cannabis and adulterated street products, which are often laced with dangerous substances, was important.
The Caribbean Commission on Cannabis, which was established by CARICOM, has recommended decriminalisation. Its findings see cannabis as part of “regional heritage” and that the current laws are “draconian.”
This is not a call for reckless deregulation. It is a call for coherence. Barbados needs a clear, unambiguous and sensible policy. The public deserves to know what direction the administration plans to take. Does it see a sustainable medicinal smarijuana industry? Does it plan to decriminalise the drug to take the sting out of the illegal trade? Will it revive the Drug Court to adequately handle the number of addicts who end up in the criminal justice system? And how does it plan to address the growing use among school children?
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