ST. JOHN’S--Antigua and Barbuda’s evolving cannabis sector is increasingly moving beyond the initial debate over legalization and cultivation, with recent developments placing new attention on cannabis tourism, public education and the country’s ability to turn its existing regulatory framework into broader economic and social opportunities.
In separate developments over the past two weeks, a senior Rastafari leader has called for Antigua and Barbuda to position itself as a Caribbean cannabis-tourism destination, while the country’s Medicinal Cannabis Authority, MCA, has expanded its substance-abuse and cannabis education program to students at the Harrison Center School of Continuing Education.
The tourism proposal came from High Priest Selah, also known as Conneal Christian, leader of the Nyabinghi Order in Antigua, who argued that the country’s tropical climate, natural environment and Rastafari heritage give it advantages that could be developed into a distinct cannabis tourism product.
Selah said Caribbean countries have natural growing conditions that reduce the need for the energy-intensive indoor cultivation systems used in colder jurisdictions. He pointed to Antigua and Barbuda’s sunlight and outdoor cultivation potential as factors that could support a more competitive industry while reducing some of the energy costs associated with cannabis production elsewhere.
His proposal goes beyond cultivation and export.
Selah believes Antigua and Barbuda could combine cannabis with its established tourism product, using beaches, climate, culture and the Rastafari connection to the plant to create an experience that distinguishes the country from established cannabis destinations such as Amsterdam.
He argued that the Caribbean already has strong international tourism appeal and could build a cannabis tourism sector around that foundation. The Rastafari community, he said, also represents a cultural identity that could contribute to the country’s international cannabis brand.
The proposal is not a new government tourism policy, but it reflects a growing discussion about how Antigua and Barbuda’s regulated cannabis framework could eventually generate economic opportunities beyond medicinal use and traditional cultivation.
Selah also cautioned that achieving that potential would require greater cooperation and organization within the Rastafari community. He identified internal division as an obstacle to developing an industry capable of attracting serious investment and said the objective should extend beyond simply producing cannabis for export.
His broader vision includes agriculture, community development and an industry built around Rastafari values while creating additional opportunities for local participation.
The call follows Selah’s earlier appeal for Rastafari cultivators and others still operating outside the regulated system to enter Antigua and Barbuda’s legal cannabis industry. He has argued that the regulatory changes made in the country have created opportunities for the Rastafari community to participate not only in sacramental cannabis use, but also in the medicinal and commercial sides of the sector.
While that discussion focuses on the economic possibilities of cannabis, Antigua and Barbuda’s regulator is simultaneously emphasizing education and responsible decision-making.
On September 15, the Medicinal Cannabis Authority took its Substance Abuse and Awareness Learning, or SAAL, program to the Harrison Center School of Continuing Education.
The initiative provides students with information about cannabis, substance use and the consequences their decisions can have on their health, education, relationships and future opportunities.
According to the MCA, the session was designed to be interactive and age-appropriate, allowing students to ask questions rather than relying solely on traditional classroom presentations.
A significant part of the program focuses on explaining the difference between medicinal and recreational cannabis, while helping young people understand the legal framework that now governs medicinal cannabis in Antigua and Barbuda.
The educational component is important because Antigua and Barbuda has been attempting to develop a regulated cannabis sector while simultaneously addressing the public-health and social issues associated with cannabis use.
The MCA has previously described education as a central part of its mandate and has conducted outreach with other groups, including police recruits, to explain how the country’s cannabis framework operates and the distinction between lawful medicinal or sacramental activity and cannabis activity that remains outside the law.
Together, the recent developments illustrate two sides of cannabis regulation that are becoming increasingly visible across the Caribbean.
One involves the economic question: whether countries that have already established legal frameworks can convert cannabis into tourism, agriculture, research, manufacturing and investment opportunities.
The other involves regulation, health and education: ensuring that legalization or regulated access does not eliminate the need for clear rules, public information and programs aimed at younger people.
Antigua and Barbuda has already established a regulated medicinal cannabis sector, including licensing and dispensary access, and the latest discussions suggest attention is gradually shifting toward what the next stage of that industry could look like.
For other Caribbean jurisdictions still considering how far to move with cannabis reform, including St. Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda offers a developing regional example of how the conversation changes once a legal framework is in place.
The questions then extend beyond whether cannabis should be regulated. They include how local communities participate, whether tourism should become part of the industry, how governments distinguish medicinal and recreational use, how young people are educated and how economic opportunities are balanced with public-health responsibilities.
The latest developments in Antigua and Barbuda show those questions increasingly being addressed at the same time, as advocates push for a larger economic vision while the regulator continues building public awareness around responsible and lawful cannabis use.
