Bryan nominated four residents to Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. nominated four people to serve on the Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board, according to a Government House announcement issued on July 23, 2019.

Nomination letters were delivered to Senate President Novelle Francis Jr. for Miguel Tricoche of St. Croix, director of consumer affairs at the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs; Dr. Catherine A. Kean of St. Thomas, a private practice physician representing the Health Department; Nicole A. Craigwell-Syms of St. Thomas, deputy commissioner of the Department of Health; and Hugo Roller of St. John, a farmer and business owner.

Under Act 8167, the board was tasked with creating regulations and policies governing the territory's medical marijuana industry. The law also called for creation of the Office of Cannabis Regulation within the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs.

The 32nd Legislature passed the Virgin Islands Medicinal Patient Care Act in December 2018, and Bryan signed it into law in January 2019. In May 2019, the 33rd Legislature amended the law to extend the time for establishing the board and the Office of Cannabis Regulation.

The amended law required the Cannabis Advisory Board to be appointed and confirmed, and to have rules in place, by Dec. 31, 2019. It also required the Office of Cannabis Regulation to begin issuing registry identification cards to qualifying patients by Dec. 31, 2019.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-nominates-4-residents-for-seats-on-v-i-cannabis-advisory-board/