Cannabinoids are chemicals which interact with the endocannabinoid system in mammals. These can be found in the Cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids), endogenously derived (endocannabinoids) or synthesised chemically. Research has found that the cannabis plant produces approximately 120 cannabinoids and about 300 non-cannabinoid chemicals. The two main clinically relevant cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The most commonly known of the two is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical that is primarily responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the active ingredient and naturally occurring cannabinoids in cannabis. It is the cannabinoid with the greatest psychoactive effect. It is considered to be the most active form, producing characteristic mood and associated perceptual changes.

16. Can a minor be prescribed medicinal cannabis?

According to the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Industry Act, 2019 the parent or guardian of a patient who is a minor shall obtain a certificate in writing from a medical practitioner certifying that the use of medicinal cannabis is necessary in the case of that minor, and the parent or guardian shall consent in writing to the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of the minor.

The Act also states that a parent or legal guardian of a patient who is a minor shall be deemed to be the caregiver for that minor unless that parent or legal guardian designates another person, or a person is designated by an order of the Court.

Any person who is under the age of 18 years shall not be designated as a caregiver.

17. How will sale of medicinal cannabis to minors be addressed, particularly in light of those studies that suggest adolescents and pre-adolescents are more susceptible to negative psychological and medical consequences from using cannabis?

There will be no sale of medicinal cannabis to minors. Possession of cannabis on or near school premises, the inclusion of a child or young person in the drug trade and the purchase of cannabis from a child or young person is illegal and on indictment could result in imprisonment for life (Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act Chapter 131).

A parent or guardian of a patient who is a minor or young person can access medicinal cannabis via mechanisms described above. However, a person who is under the age of 18 years shall not be designated as a caregiver of a minor or young person.

Important Note:Cannabis affects the same biological system in the brain that is responsible for brain development. The earlier you start consuming cannabis, the more harm it can do. Starting as a teen, consuming frequently (daily or near daily) and over a long time (several months or years) increases the risk of mental health problems. These problems include dependence and disorders related to psychosis, anxiety and depression. [1] For more information, visit your doctor.

[1] Chadwick B, Miller ML, Hurd YL. Cannabis use during adolescent development: Susceptibility to psychiatric illness. Front Psychiatry 2013 Oct 14;4:129.

• 18. What is a Legacy Practitioner/Traditional Farmer?

  Someone who has vast experience and knowledge in the growth, production and cultivation of cannabis.

  19. What does cultivation mean?

  Cultivation includes the growing, harvesting, curing and drying of plant material.

  20. What does cultivation site mean?

  A cultivation site is the premise specified in a cultivator license as premises on which cannabis plants are authorised to be cultivated.

  21. What does therapeutic facility mean?

  Therapeutic facility is the premises granted a Retail Distributor Licence:

  • to sell, dispense or provide medicinal cannabis prescribed by a medical practitioner; and

  • to provide facilities and other medicinal or therapeutic requirements to allow a patient who has purchased, prescribed or recommended medicinal cannabis to use or consume that medicinal cannabis there for therapeutic purposes.

  22. Who will grow the medicinal cannabis and distil the appropriate derivatives for the medical fraternity to use?

  Any person with a Cultivator License (Tier 1 to 4), is allowed to grow, harvest, dry, trim, cure or package medicinal cannabis.

  To distil the appropriate derivatives for the medical fraternity, a person with a Processor License (Tier 1 to 3), will be allowed to process and manufacture cannabis material and medicinal cannabis products.

  For more information on licenses please click here.

  23. Given that differences in cannabis plants lead to differing strengths of derivatives, how will this be controlled so that persons electing to use medicinal cannabis can obtain a consistent product or will this be a free-for-all?

  A person shall not cultivate, supply, possess, or obtain medicinal cannabis for any of the purposes specified under the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Act, 2019, unless that person is the holder of the relevant license issued pursuant to the Act. A person who contravenes is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment, to a fine of 15 times the value of the medicinal cannabis cultivated, supplied, possessed, or obtained, or to imprisonment for a term of 10 years or to both.

  24. How will the legal framework address who grows/imports medicinal cannabis?

  While the BMCLA will deliver policies, procedures and guidelines to establish the cannabis industry, the legal framework has been established by the laws of Barbados, which states that a person who is 18 years of age or older who is a citizen, permanent resident, person with immigrant status or citizen of a CARICOM member state other than Barbados, or is a company, partnership or co-operative society may apply for a license to grow or import medicinal cannabis.

  The BMCLA, under strict control, issues several other categories of licenses including cultivation, transporting, manufacturing, dispensing, research and development, laboratory testing and exporting medicinal cannabis.

  25. Can persons with previous criminal records become involved in the industry?

  Section 32 (3) if the Act states that "A person who has been convicted of any of the offences in the second schedule or of any other similar offence in any country, shall not be eligible for a license.

  For more information, please click here.

There are two major concerns regarding smoking medicinal cannabis.

Firstly, smoking is a particularly harmful way of taking medicinal cannabis, mainly because it poses comparable risks for bronchitis and lung cancer, as is the smoking of cigarettes. Smoking medicinal cannabis is not permitted by local or international Health authorities.

Secondly, approved medicines used in Barbados are produced under strict conditions to ensure efficacy and safety. It is important that medical doctors know that medicines have been tested and are standardized by dose and therapeutic response. This means doctors can monitor the effects of the drug and doses can be adjusted according to a patient’s needs.

It is understood that smoked cannabis will not be prescribed in Barbados because smoked plant products will not satisfy governmental requirements.

Like any other prescribed medication, the administration of prescribed medicinal cannabis will be under supervision and monitoring by your doctor so to minimise harm, or negative interact to a patient. Factors like medical history, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, co-morbidities, other medications that a patient may be taking will all be taken into consideration along with regular checkups.