As Trinidad and Tobago moves to raise the legal age for cannabis use to 25 and alcohol to 21, Saint Lucian business owners and advocates are pushing back, arguing that stricter age limits won’t curb youth substance abuse without vigorous education campaigns.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s announcement last month has sparked debate across the Caribbean, with Saint Lucian stakeholders divided. While some support tighter restrictions to protect young people, others warn of economic damage and ineffective enforcement.
Cannabis decriminalisation (up to 30 grammes) has been law in Saint Lucia since 2021, but specific age restrictions remain absent. Advocates also claim there has been no national campaign on responsible use.
Aaron Alexander, president of the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari, dismisses age hikes as misguided: “Whether we put the age at 18 or 25, the issue is lack of education.”
His concerns are echoed by veteran cannabis campaigner Andre DeCaries, who claimed he started using ganja at 14 under Trinidad’s “draconian” laws.
“I could still get weed whenever I wanted,” he said. “You just hide the smoke, and nobody knows you’re using it. So, unless we have people to enforce the laws, I don’t think it will make any real impact.”
He notes that Saint Lucia, like Jamaica and Antigua, has yet to roll out promised educational programmes despite years of advocacy.
“That’s why you see so many young people getting into it, and public figures driving around with a spliff in their mouth. In typical Caribbean fashion, we’ve done nothing for so long that … pulling it back will be extremely difficult.”
Alcohol sellers warn of financial damage if age limits are raised. For Tarik Amedee, owner of Starrick’s Delight in Castries, the proposal ignores economic realities.
While he supports encouraging responsible drinking, he believes raising the age limit isn’t the solution.
“When you’re at the age of 18, you’re an adult,” he said.
Amedee emphasised that alcohol is not only tied to cultural events like Carnival but also a source of income for many. “Many people sell alcohol to earn a living,” he added, noting that such a restriction would hurt small businesses like his.
A Choiseul bar owner, who asked not to be named, admits alcohol fuels social ills but warns that even though raising the age might dent the problem, it might also hurt sales.
The informal cannabis trade also faces pressure. Former National Youth Council President Ajani Lebourne notes that many young men sell weed to feed their families.
“I believe [the proposed change] would seriously impact that sector, and it means that young people will need to resort to another form of employment,” he said. “What we would not want is that they resort to other illicit forms and perhaps more harmful forms of employment.”
Medical experts warn that cannabis and alcohol pose unique risks to developing brains. Yet advocates counter that restrictive rules have failed to curb drug use among young people.
