Virgin Island Medical Cannabis Bill Introduced

Sen. Positive Nelson has announced the introduction of the Virgin Islands Medical Cannabis Patient Care Act (VSMCPC) to the Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nelson later downloaded a copy of the entire Act to his Facebook page.

The U.S. Virgin Island voted in 2014 to allow the legislation of medical cannabis for the area. Nelson was involved of introducing a different cannabis act back then too, but it was later discarded after concerns with the islands’ position with the federal government. Nelson said he reintroduced the bill to fulfill his obligation as a policymaker to the people of the Virgin Islands.

“The initiative I pushed wasn’t to legalize marijuana, it was to put a question on the ballot as to whether the people are interested in having medicinal marijuana authorized in the territory,” said Nelson in 2014 while speaking with VI Consortium. “My ultimate goal is what the people want. I asked the question first, if the people want it, they will get.”

The new bill would allow islanders to possess up to four ounces of cannabis. The VSMCPC Act would also create a system of testing and production facilities, and dispensaries. Patients would be issued registry identification cards. The list of conditions covered include cancer, glaucoma, PTSD, chronic pain, muscle spasms, hospice care, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.

“I’m requesting that this measure be heard by the committee of the whole, and not the Health Committee, whose chair has exhibited an obvious bias against cannabis legalization in any form,” Nelson told the St. Thomas Source.

The bill has been changed to reflect concerns from the former legislation, which was originally dropped before a long battle of discussion, committee talks and public hearings.

The Virgin Islands are in the midst of a crippling budget crisis and some feel that legalizing cannabis for adult use could bring much needed revenue.

In 2014, the Senate overrode a veto to decriminalize cannabis possession, with those 18 and over in possession will be fined instead of jailed. Minors would have to complete a drug awareness program.