Assist
Where required, assists with the provision of analytical services, also ensures that proper disposal requirements are prescribed for the safe disposal of cannabis which is handled under the Act.
Learn MoreWhat are the functions of the BMCLA?
Develop
Develop 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.
Learn MoreProvide
Issues licences in relation to the handling of medicinal cannabis in accordance with the provisions of the Act, 2019, also provides for the distribution of educational materials etc.
Learn MoreRegulate
Regulates the handling of medicinal cannabis, with the approval of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Board, establishes and maintains an electronic database.
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From Our Community
Get the latest top news stories and updates from BMCLA and the Medicinal Cannabis Community. Find videos, articles and downloads on the latest top news stories in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis means all parts of any plant of the genus cannabis including any resin obtained from the plant.
Why is smoking cannabis for medical purposes not permitted?
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.
Who can be a caregiver?
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.
How will medicinal cannabis be accessed by pharmacies and doctors for prescription to patients?
The Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority grants licenses to facilitate the cultivation, processing, transport and dispensing of medicinal cannabis to patients. The Medicinal Cannabis Industry Act, 2019 outlines that medicinal cannabis products can be prescribed by a medical practitioner. A Pharmacy with a retail distributor's license can dispense medicinal cannabis when presented by a patient with a prescription and a valid form of identification.
Currently, there are five legally-approved medicinal cannabis drugs, placed on the National Drug Formulary for specific indications, via approval from the Minister of Health and Wellness utilising Section 12 of the Drug Abuse (Control and Prevention) Act Cap 131.
Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist for more information on accessing medicinal cannabis.
Who can dispense Medicinal Cannabis?
A pharmacist or authorized personnel in a pharmacy or a therapeutic facility may dispense medicinal cannabis to a patient and where applicable, to a caregiver for a patient. A pharmacist or authorized personnel in a pharmacy should only dispense medicinal cannabis on the submission by a patient, or where applicable, a caregiver, of a prescription and a valid form of identification for the patient. Upon dispensing medicinal cannabis to a patient or, where applicable, a caregiver, a pharmacist should ensure that the label given in respect of the prescription has the information required by regulations of the Pharmacy (compounding and Dispensing of Drugs and Poisons) Regulations, 1986. A pharmacist shall enter the information of the patient in a register kept by him or her and established for the purpose, in the prescribed manner:
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Conform to any requirement or limitation set by the medical practitioner as to the form of medicinal cannabis that is required in relation to the patient;
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Provide to a patient and where applicable, a caregiver, information on the lawful methods for administering medicinal cannabis in individual doses;
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Provide to a patient and where applicable, a caregiver, information on how to prevent or deter the misuse of medicinal cannabis by a minor; or
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Provide to a patient, and where applicable, a caregiver, any other information which the pharmacist may consider to be relevant.
What are the short-term effects of cannabis use or THC based products?
Everyone's response to cannabis differs and can vary from one time to the next.
Like any other drug, cannabis can:
- Impair your ability to drive safely or operate heavy equipment
- It can cause drowsiness, slow reaction times, lower your ability to pay attention and impair coordination
- Affect your mental capacity
- Impair your concentration, memory and decision-making, and can impact your ability to perform well on the job or at school.[1]
- Cause euphoria (a high) it can also cause anxiety or panic.[2]
- In rare cases, cannabis can trigger a psychotic episode (not knowing what is real, experiencing paranoia, having disorganized thoughts and, in some cases, hallucinating).[3]
[1] [2] [3] World Health Organization (WHO). The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use.