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.

A patient may designate a person as a caregiver and that person has the responsibility for the immediate care and safety of the patient; to assist the patient with obtaining or using medicinal cannabis or to act in the best interest of the patient. A receiver appointed for a person by the Court, under the Mental Health Act Cap. 45, or where relevant a guardian in accordance with the provisions of the Mental Health Act, shall be deemed to be the caregiver of a person to who the Act applies.

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.

Cannabis use is discouraged during pregnancy and during nursing. Substances in cannabis can transfer from the mother to child and can affect your unborn or newborn baby.

• develops policies, procedures and guidelines to establish the medicinal cannabis industry and to ensure that medicinal cannabis is available to patients in a safe and efficient manner;

• regulates the handling of medicinal cannabis;

• issues licences in relation to the handling of medicinal cannabis in accordance with the provisions of the Barbados Medicinal Industry Act;

• develops enforcement procedures in relation to the inspection of premises that are operated by a person in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Barbados Medicinal Industry Act or any regulations made pursuant to this Act;

• where required, assists with the provision of analytical services;

• with the approval of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Board, establishes and maintains an electronic database to:

  • Collect, collate and include information relating to persons who handle medicinal cannabis or cannabis in accordance with this Act; and

  • Provide for the electronic tracking of the handling of medicinal cannabis or cannabis in accordance with the Barbados Medicinal Industry Act;

• with the approval of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Board, requests from the Minister of Health such information as may assist the BMCLA with its functions;

• provides for the distribution of educational materials and the conduct of training programmes in relation to the development and use of medicinal cannabis and the medicinal cannabis industry;

• ensures that proper disposal requirements are prescribed for the safe disposal of cannabis which is handled under the Barbados Medicinal Industry Act;

• performs such other functions assigned to it under the Barbados Medicinal Industry Act or any other enactment; and

• enters into any arrangement, which, in the opinion of the BMCLA, is necessary to ensure the proper performance of its functions.

• The BMCLA can suspend or revoke a license where:

  • the person issued the license is convicted of an offence under the Act;

  • the person issued with the license contravenes a term of condition of the license granted under the Act.

  • the Minister requires the suspension or revocation of the license in the interest of public health or public safety.

  For more about the Barbados Medicinal Industry Act please click here