The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis have launched the nation’s Medicinal Cannabis Authority, another important step towards a thriving local industry benefiting patients.

An island nation consisting of two islands situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Saint Kitts and Nevis is home to more than 54,000 people. It’s the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere, in terms of both area and population.

In 2019, then-Prime Minister Timothy Harris announced his government would introduce legislation to legalize medicinal cannabis and decriminalize recreational use for those over the age of 18. The same year, the country’s High Court ruled Rastafarians and other adults can use, possess, and cultivate cannabis in private.

In April 2020, legislation was passed that legalized medical cannabis in the country and authorised establishing the Medicinal Cannabis Authority, which would be responsible for regulating the industry and creating a cultivation, supply, production and use licensing scheme.

The Authority was finally formally launched last week.

The Authority will be directed by the Cannabis Board. The Board’s director, Mrs. Jihan Williams-Knight, says the Authority has dual responsibilities – promoting access and education, and preventing cannabis misuse.

“It is our job as the Medicinal Cannabis Authority to navigate these legal nuances, address public health concerns, and dispel negative stigmas to ensure that access to medicinal cannabis is clear, transparent, and never unreasonably denied,” she stated.

In 2023, amendments to the nation’s Cannabis Act transferred control over the industry from the Prime Minister to the Minister of Agriculture.

“We stand at a truly exciting moment, entering the global medicinal cannabis industry with the advantage of insight, experience, and readiness,” said Agriculture Minister Samal Duggins. “By learning from others, we have crafted an approach that is thoughtful, strategic, and uniquely our own.”

The government’s information service said the nation is entering a “new era with confidence”.

“This marks a powerful step forward in healthcare, economic growth, and social justice. Patients over 21 will soon be able to access safe, legal medicinal cannabis under a well-regulated system.”

Acknowledging the role the Rastafarian community has played, the Authority has decided that any licensing fees for Rastas will be waived.

“This is not just the establishment of an institution—it is a commitment to fairness, respect, and historical acknowledgement,” said Minister Duggins.