[Updated] Draft bill: Cannabis use and possession only for 21-years and over

Editor’s note: This article has been revised with the current composition of the Cannabis Working Committee (CWC), as well as other minor changes.

by Linda Straker

• Minister Andrews confirmed that cannabis for recreational and religious use will be decriminalised
• Age raised from 18 to 21 years old
• Amendment is currently being discussed by several focus groups

Agriculture Minister Lennox Andrews has confirmed that the proposed amendment to the Drug Act, which will decriminalise cannabis for recreational and religious use, will prohibit people under the age of 21 from being in possession and using cannabis.

This is a fundamental difference from the bill that was laid in the House in 2021 by the previous New National Party (NNP) Administration. That bill was laid for first reading and did not receive Parliamentary approval because of the June 2022 General Election. It allowed anyone over 18 to have 28 grams (approximately 1 oz) of cannabis and allowed each homeowner over the age of 18 to grow no more than 5 trees.

“We are making that fundamental change based on medical advice. We have health professionals on the committee who persuaded us that it’s the right thing to do, and we are convinced that 21 is the right age, and so we will allow the starting age to use marijuana to be 21 and over,” said Andrews.

The amendment is currently being discussed by several focus groups, including the Conference of Churches, the Grenada Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (GAPSS), healthcare professionals, and the Grenada Bar Association. “We are hoping to have the bill be presented to the House before the end of the year because we want to meet with a wide cross section of people before we lay the bill in the House,” Andrews said.

A new Cannabis Working Committee (CWC) was approved in February 2025, comprising:

• Anselm Clouden, Attorney-at-law (Chair)
• Betty Ann Lazarus, Public Relations Coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture (Vice Chair)
• Ms Nandy Noel, CEO of the Cannabis Secretariat
• Dr Shawn Charles, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health
• ACP Vannie Curwen, Officer in Charge of Crimes, Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF)
• Josh Hector, Director of Mental Health and Substance Issues
• Michael Baptiste, representative of the Rastafari Community

For the June 2022 General Election, the National Democratic Congress campaigned on a promise to legalise cannabis. In September 2022, in keeping with that promise, the Government established a Commission on Cannabis Legalisation and Regulation, chaired by former Senator Rolanda McQueen.

The life of that committee ended, and the members were not reappointed. Instead, the CWC was appointed with a promise to have the relevant recommendations and draft legislation tabled in the Parliament by June or July 2025. Minister Andrews confirmed that cannabis will not be legalised, but decriminalised.