The organisation serving members of the island’s emerging cannabis industry is calling on the government for updates on the decriminalisation of marijuana, following a police crackdown that led to the destruction of more than 1 300 cannabis plants and the arrest of two men in Laborie.
Interim president of the Herbal Cooperative, Andre Pancho de Caires, has expressed frustration at delays in passing the necessary legislation.
Last Saturday, Leroy and Glenroy Willie were taken into custody following the search of a Black Bay, Laborie residence by officers of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).
Police said they seized approximately 23.2 pounds of suspected cannabis, with an estimated street value of $10 440. Officers also confiscated $765 in cash, believed to be proceeds of drug-related activities, and discovered six cannabis plantations near the residence. In total, 1 368 cannabis plants were taken and destroyed.
The seizure sparked public reaction on social media, with several commenters questioning the arrests. One wrote: “So in this day and age, when marijuana is legal and sold in all forms abroad, people are being arrested for growing the herb here in Saint Lucia.”
De Caires also took to social media, questioning, “Who exactly is giving the directive to the RSLPF to commit mass destruction of farms?”
A long-time advocate for the decriminalisation of marijuana, de Caires said that despite positive rhetoric from government officials in support of reform, the wheels are moving slowly. In the meantime, he said, police crackdowns continue to affect individuals who may otherwise operate legally if policies were changed.
“Many of our CARICOM neighbours have leapfrogged us and have fully legalised and are benefitting from the move,” said the cooperative’s interim president.
De Caires, who has been heavily involved in stakeholder discussions, claimed that a bill on decriminalisation was completed in August 2025 under the leadership of former Minister of Commerce Emma Hippolyte. He questioned why it had not yet been tabled in Parliament.
“This was a campaign promise not honoured,” he stated. The government has not publicly commented on the status of the bill.
De Caires also claimed that Prime Minister Philip J Pierre had engaged him directly on the issue during previous administrations.
“When he was in power, he called me personally, along with the Attorney General, to let us know that full legalisation was the intention,” de Caires said. He pointed to the emergence of the Regulatory Services Agency (RSA) and the Herbal Cooperative as part of efforts to serve the developing cannabis industry.
He has now called on the new Minister of Commerce, Ernest Hilaire, to move the legislation forward: “My question to Minister Hilaire is: when do you intend to pass the legislation?”
Addressing reporters at a police press conference today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Luke Defreitas said officers will continue to crack down on cannabis use as long as it remains illegal.
“The cultivation of cannabis … up to this point is not legalised and, therefore, I do not know that we have legally registered cannabis farmers on island,” Defreitas stated. “Until the laws are amended to facilitate cannabis being a legal industry, the police will continue to crack down on all illegal possession, cultivation, trafficking, transporting, and selling of cannabis.”
Pancho, the government is slow-walking (via bureaucratic redtape – yes, I know, redundancy) any movement towards legalizing cannabis farming. The goal is to wear down the patience, interest and finances of the Herbal Cooperative & other prospective small farmers.
Once this tack is successful enough in dashing enterprising hopes, the government will mete out a small number of franchises to their supporters only; to ensure that they personally reap tremendous profits via secret business partnerships with those same “legally” franchised supporters.
The current police crackdowns are just models for how those franchises, in the future, will be protected from competition from unfranchised cannabis producers.
Correct – Politician make promises but remember promises are made to be believed by only fools. If any government have the people interest at heart they will do what’s necessary to elevate their citizens out of poverty. That’s a far fetch idea from reality, only when people are on their dyeing bed, with option of this herb being able to make them regain some level of normalcy they will go for it, but when they are back onto their two legs, better believe you’ll get chastise. Some member states are reaping rewards and farmer/cultivators are employing people to plant and money is circulating. Here you’ll destine to be jail, the country never has money to take care of the health and other important sectors, still crying out no money to do project, still giving hotels 1.5 decades tax free, still securing investor to come and abuse the workforce. And refuse to legalize one plant that can generate 100’s millions of income. Only foolish people believe in politicians.
There is a distinct difference between decriminalising and legalising Cannabis.
The former relates to small-scale/domestic growing for personal use or just using cannabis in general while not supplying to others.
Legalising refers to growing crops for commercial use and often for products that have medicinal purposes rather than as recreational ‘drugs’. Often the latter have the THC removed ie the “high” component.
Completely agree that Cannabis use should be decriminalised for sacred purposes for the Rastafari communities. Also, for occasional users of the herb. However for the latter, it also needs some level of control/age limits as it is known (bodies of research) that it can affect the adolescent developing brain. Heavy users, from a young age, can experience impaired intellectual development and It is also known to trigger psychotic episodes in some individuals.
Legalising cannabis for commercial purposes and products would be an ideal opportunity to develop that industry for St Lucia’s economy. I doubt whether the farms referred to in this case were developed for that purpose since no such Legislation exists in this country.
The St Lucian Government needs to set out and implement Legislation which defines and clarifies both decriminalising and legalising cannabis to the benefit of all St Lucians whether it be for personal use or for new industries which benefit the economy.
Additional to my previous comment: Cannabis can be legalised for growing on a commercial scale and selling, however as stated before there need to be laws related to it given the various impacts that can have.
Getting the Laws right is imperative in making this work. Agree though, as usual, Government is dragging its tail!