Virgin Islands Medical Marijuana Bill Held In Committee

With many witnesses testifying that they supported medical marijuana but that the bill required major amendment, the Health, Hospitals and Human Services Committee held legislation to establish medical marijuana without a vote, late Monday night.

The measure proposed by Sen. Positive Nelson would legalize medical marijuana or cannabis and set up an oversight board to regulate it. [Bill 31-0348] In 2014, V.I. voters approved by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin a referendum asking the Legislature to consider legalizing medical marijuana.

Monday's hearing was the second for the bill, following a session Friday. Sen. Kurt Vialet, the committee chair, said the committee plans to draft multiple amendments and hear the bill again in the near future.

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