By R. Butcher. Updated 12:07 p.m., Friday, October 3, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Carlos James, Minister of Tourism of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, addressed the Cannabis Festivals Conference on Thursday, 2 October 2025, where he hailed the nation’s role as a pioneer in the medicinal cannabis industry and highlighted the transformation taking place over the years.
He highlighted that traditional cultivators are now at the heart of the industry, receiving licences at no cost, full integration into the legal medicinal cannabis sector, and support through government regulation, research, and medical tourism initiatives — a major shift from when they were once marginalised by eradication programmes.
“They are now issued licences free of cost to cultivate, and in my own constituency in North Leeward, when you drive across the roadsides, you are seeing farms with traditional cultivators just as you are seeing farms with farmers planting lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, and dasheen,” he said.
The minister acknowledged that the industry has faced setbacks, including the eruption of La Soufrière and Hurricane Beryl, but noted the resilience of farmers and investors in sustaining its growth. He projected that medical tourism will soon become central to St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ tourism sector, supported by the construction of a new acute referral hospital and the legal availability of cannabis-based medicines for patients.
Minister James also praised Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar as a regional leader in medicinal cannabis legislation and innovation, often consulted across the Caribbean for guidance.
Looking ahead, Minister James outlined a vision of future growth, noting that students and younger generations will witness breakthroughs in advanced therapies and medical research derived from cannabis grown in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He added that the government remains committed to providing the legislative platform, regulatory framework, and investor support necessary to sustain the industry, while ensuring traditional cultivators, medical professionals, and business stakeholders remain central to its development.
“St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a pioneer in the medicinal cannabis space. Conferences such as this help set the stage for regional collaboration, scientific research, and economic development, using what God has given us — plants and herbs that can advance lives and livelihoods,” Minister James said.
This information was sourced from the office of the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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