Ending the prohibition on cannabis in the Virgin Islands is a hot topic and one that should be approached with some care. Many persons have strong feelings about the use of cannabis, and are uncomfortable with the presence of the drug in the community. Many idle youths spend their days smoking, and the conclusion might be that the drug made them that way. But it is just as likely that they were idle in the first instance, and smoke by chance. In any event, having more information about the specific concerns and how they can be addressed is helpful. Some of these issues, and their management, are laid out here.

First, everyone agrees that minimising access to the drug by persons under a certain age is a common goal. Currently, this is done by imposing a substantial prison term on those who are caught and recording the conviction on their record for life. In the future, by classifying the possession of marijuana as a misdemeanour, the police are still involved in controlling the use of the drug, but the penalty will be a fine and perhaps completion of a drug-awareness or job-training programme. This increases contact with at-risk youth at a critical time in their development, without sentencing them to the worst university on earth, which is jail.

 

Regulated like alcohol

Second, controlling how marijuana is grown, distributed and sold should be modelled on the current regulations in place for alcohol. Growers would have to demonstrate to law enforcement that they grow in a secure facility, harvest recorded amounts, and pay taxes on the harvest by the pound. Then the product would be put into labelled and certified containers, with a serial number and date of production on each. These containers would be distributed to licensed sellers who would have to prove to law enforcement a secure environment, record their sales, and pay taxes. Buyers would have to possess a purchase licence, renewed annually, and tourists could purchase these on arrival like a fishing licence. Finally, possession would have to be only of this licensed and state-approved product: Otherwise, possession would incur a misdemeanour charge and a fine payable at traffic court.

 

Controlling consumption

With these basic controls put in place, the community is in a position to control the consumption of marijuana better than it is controlled now. Infractions will be punished instead of ignored, and even arrest quotas could be put in place to maximise awareness of the new laws. This would result in a high level of income to the police and the courts, instead of the current loss that they have to sustain in relation to cannabis. With the licence-based regime for users of cannabis, a firm understanding of the real number of users who are in the community could be gained. Collection of taxes, fees and fines would result in a direct financial benefit to the general fund at a time when it is badly needed. The income from the tourist licences could be substantial, and would allow the rescinding of the high fees currently extracted from all visitors to the Virgin Islands.

In closing, ending the prohibition makes sense. It is easier to regulate cannabis and derive some of the substantial benefit that it can bring through taxation, a different level of enforcement, and medical use. Think it through: The time has come to consider legalisation.