| Law Title | Act Number | Year | Link |
|---|
| The Cannabis Act, 2018 | No. 28 of 2018 | 2018 | View Document |
| The Cannabis (Amendment) Act, 2021 | No. 6 of 2021 | 2021 | View Document |
| The Cannabis (Amendment) Act, 2022 | No. 26 of 2022 | 2022 | View Document |
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| General Overview | |
| Location | Twin-island state in the Eastern Caribbean, part of the Lesser Antilles. |
| Population | Approximately 100,000 (2023 estimate). |
| Economy | Tourism-driven economy, with agriculture, light manufacturing, and emerging cannabis sector contributing. |
| Cannabis History & Culture | Cannabis has deep roots in local culture, especially within Rastafarian religious practices. Decriminalized for small-scale use and cultivated for medicinal and sacramental purposes. |
| Current Legal Status | |
| Personal Use | Possession of up to 15 grams and cultivation of up to four plants per household decriminalized since 2018. |
| Medicinal Use | Legal under the Cannabis Act 2018 for regulated cultivation, sale, and personal use. |
| Recreational Use | Recreational cannabis remains illegal. |
| Restrictions | Strict regulatory framework for medicinal cannabis businesses; only licensed entities can cultivate, process, or sell cannabis. |
| Projected Market Data | |
| Market Size Forecast | Expected to generate millions annually from licensing, cultivation, and exports of medicinal cannabis products. |
| Licensing Revenue | Discounts for local businesses through the Collaborative Grow License program, with up to 80% reduced fees for local entrepreneurs. |
| Economic Impact | Projected to create significant job opportunities in cultivation, processing, and retail sectors, while boosting tourism with dispensary services for visitors. |
| Cannabis Industry & Economy | |
| Key Players | – Antigua and Barbuda Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA): Regulates the industry, ensuring compliance and promoting local participation. – Grow Antigua: Vertically integrated seed-to-sale medical cannabis company, including cultivation, processing, and dispensary operations. – Itopia Life (Antigua): Combines local and international expertise in medicinal cannabis. – Rastafari Food For Life: Represents Rastafarian contributions to the industry. |
| Economic Potential | The industry offers opportunities to diversify the economy and improve public health outcomes through medicinal cannabis use. |
| Commercial Initiatives | Development of sacramental and medicinal cannabis operations, export opportunities to Europe, and locally-made cannabis products. |
| Research & Development | |
| Academic Partnerships | Efforts to collaborate with international institutions for cannabis research and product innovation. |
| Research Focus | Targeted illnesses such as anxiety, epilepsy, chronic pain, cancer, and more through advanced genetics and product formulations. |
| Potential Collaborations | Exploring partnerships with EU and other international markets for medicinal cannabis exports, pending compliance with stringent regulations. |
| Cultural & Social Dynamics | |
| Cultural Acceptance | Rastafarian communities granted legal rights to cultivate and use cannabis for sacramental purposes in 2023. |
| Social Programs | Education campaigns on responsible cannabis use and tackling substance abuse, including alcohol and tobacco. |
| Community Impact | Reduced licensing costs to encourage local participation; reparative initiatives for Rastafarian communities impacted by previous cannabis prohibition. |
| Environment & Sustainability | |
| Agricultural Practices | Promoting sustainable cultivation practices to ensure high-quality medicinal cannabis production. |
| Environmental Challenges | Managing ecological impacts from cultivation and processing while balancing industry growth. |
| Sustainability Initiatives | Advocating for renewable energy use and environmentally friendly cultivation methods in cannabis operations. |
| Challenges & Opportunities | |
| Challenges | – Ensuring compliance with stringent international export standards. – Overcoming high entry costs for local entrepreneurs despite discounted licenses. |
| Opportunities | – Positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a leader in Caribbean medicinal cannabis exports. – Expanding wellness tourism with dispensary and lounge services. |
| Key Recommendations | |
| For Policymakers | – Strengthen support for local entrepreneurs through education and funding initiatives. – Advocate for regional collaboration in cannabis industry development. |
| For Investors | -Target high-growth areas such as infused products, tourism-focused dispensaries, and international exports. -Leverage Antigua and Barbuda’s thriving tourism sector by integrating cannabis lounges and wellness tourism services. -Collaborate with local businesses to align with government incentives and build community trust. |
| For Communities | – Engage in public consultations to shape an inclusive and equitable cannabis industry. – Support educational efforts to raise awareness of medicinal cannabis benefits. |
| Licensing | |
| Cultivation License | Available through the Collaborative Grow License program for groups of five or more local citizens at an 80% discount. |
| Retail License | Dispensary licenses granted to local entities for medicinal cannabis sales. |
| Analytical Testing License | Regulates cannabis product quality and compliance with export standards. |
| Manufacturing License | Supports the processing of cannabis into oils, tinctures, and other products. |
| Research License | Enables research into cannabis genetics and medical applications. |
| Transport License | Required for moving cannabis between licensed facilities. |
| Religious Use License | Granted to Rastafarian communities for sacramental cannabis use. |
| Annexes and References | |
| Key Documents | – Cannabis Act 2018. – Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2018. – MCA Annual Reports. |
| References | – Antigua Observer, “Medical Cannabis Licences Made More Affordable” (2024). – Grow Antigua Official Site. |
| Call to Action | |
| Next Steps | Investors are encouraged to contact the International Society of Cannabis (ISC) at investors@is-cannabis.com for tailored guidance on licensing, partnerships, and navigating the Antigua and Barbuda cannabis market. |