Bill 36-0105, as currently written, would wipe out the legal hemp industry in the Virgin Islands while doing little to protect children or public health.

Supporters of this bill claim it is about safety — but in reality, it:

• Bans THCa, a natural cannabinoid found in every cannabis plant, even though dispensary cannabis will still contain it.
• Contradicts the Cannabis Use Act, creating different rules for hemp and marijuana even though they produce the same compounds.
• Punishes compliant businesses that follow testing, labelling, and age rules, while unlicensed sellers continue to thrive without oversight.
  Ignores the facts — youth ingestion incidents in the Virgin Islands have been linked to locally made edibles, not hemp products.
• Sets up enforcement to fail, since local agencies already lack the resources to police unlicensed vendors.

This bill doesn’t fix the real problems. Instead, it takes safe, tested products out of the hands of regulated businesses and pushes people toward unsafe, unregulated alternatives.

A Smarter Approach

Rather than banning hemp flower and products that are federally legal, the Legislature should adopt targeted, enforceable rules that actually protect children and consumers:

• Ban only non-naturally occurring synthetic cannabinoids like THC-O.
• Require enhanced lab testing for products made with semi-synthetic cannabinoids (like delta-8, delta-10, or HHC).
• Make all hemp products 21+ only and require they be sold behind the counter in licensed stores.
• Require products to have third-party potency testing, QR code transparency, and child-resistant packaging.
• Align packaging rules with the Cannabis Use Act so products don’t look like candy or popular snacks.
• Create a product registration system for hemp licensees to register their products to ensure adherence
• Implement small tax (e.g., 5%) payable by hemp licensees on hemp sales payable by the businesses to fund enforcement, testing, and education.

Why It Matters

The Virgin Islands already has a lawful hemp framework, USDA-approved since 2020, and businesses have operated responsibly under it for years. Bill 36-0105 would reverse that progress, destroy opportunities for local farmers, and create contradictions within our laws — all while failing to solve the issues it claims to address.

We need smart regulation, not prohibition. Protect children with age limits, testing, packaging standards, and education. Don’t punish responsible businesses and consumers.

Sign this petition to tell the Legislature: Vote NO on Bill 36-0105 and support a fair, safe, and consistent hemp framework.