Cannabis is currently illegal in the sovereign West Indies island country of Saint Lucia, but the mayor of its capital city has come out in support of a legalized marijuana industry.
The Mayor of Castries, His Worship Peterson D. Francis, today announced his endorsement of the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis in Saint Lucia after he was fully briefed on every aspect of a proposed industry.
Representatives from the Herbal Cooperative, Cannabis Movement of St. Lucia, and the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari presented the information to Mayor Francis in a meeting last week.
During the meeting, Mayor Francis said that a strong regulatory framework focused on health would be necessary to facilitate a smooth transition into a new cannabis industry.
“There should be empowerment at a Government level to prevent corporate greed, foster small businesses and meet the demands,” says Mayor Francis. “Emphasis should also be placed on the need to ensure that any marijuana industry in Saint Lucia rights the wrongs of the past and promotes economic opportunity for all.”
Mayor Francis stressed the importance of protecting young people and educating everyone who lives in Saint Lucia about cannabis use, which he says can be accomplished through legislation.
The Mayor says that he has always had reservations about a cannabis industry but is convinced that a regulatory framework that keeps streets safe, rights past wrongdoings, and gives economic opportunities to communities can be established.
Mayor Francis says that he supports decriminalization with the belief that a path forward can be developed that makes Saint Lucia non-discriminatory and economically competitive.
