Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jul 14, 2025

Speaker Concerned: Three Bills Including Cannabis Licensing Still With Governor

Speaker Concerned: Three Bills Including Cannabis Licensing Still With Governor

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Julian Willock has expressed concern over three Bills that have not been assented to by His Excellency Governor Augustus Jaspert despite being passed in the House of Assembly months ago.
These Bills are the Advance Passenger Information Act, 2020, VI Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020 and the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act, 2020. Hon. Willock raised the issue during the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on Thursday, November 5.

He said: “Honourable Members, I must also bring to your attention once more, that we have three Bills still not assented to by the Governor, and I have still to be given a plausible reason from His Excellency, as to why.”

The Speaker added, “We have outstanding: the Advance Passenger Information Act, 2020, which was passed in the House on 16th June 2020. This Act was sent to the Governor’s Office on 1st July 2020. Also not assented to is; the VI Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020, which was passed on 30th June 2020 and sent to Governor’s Office on 27th July 2020; and, the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act, 2020, which was passed on 2nd July 2020 and sent to Governor’s Office on 27th July 2020.”

The Advance Passenger and Information Act when it becomes law will put the territory up to par with CARICOM standards which makes it mandatory for aircrafts and boats coming or leaving the territory to submit information on crew and passengers before they arrive or leave.

The Bill, according to Minister for Natural Resources, Immigration and Labour Hon. Vincent Wheatley said the Bill would improve the border security of the territory and allow the Immigration Department to be at the ready for any threats, and it would also expedite passenger processing among other benefits.

As for the Cannabis Licensing Act, when it becomes law, it would lay the groundwork for the establishment of the controversial medical marijuana industry in the British Virgin Islands.

Among the government’s plan is to give roughly 100 locals a plot of land to grow the herb for medicinal uses that would then be processed and ready for sale.

The Drug Prevention & Misuse (Amendment) Act that is yet to be assented to, will, among other things, make it possible for persons who have been previously convicted of a cannabis-related offences to have their criminal records erased.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
×