The Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) is the sole regulator, that is mandated to create and position the local medicinal cannabis industry as a global centre of excellence in training, certification, research and development and to provide a high quality, accessible and advanced patient-centric environment to qualifying individuals.

The BMCLA also ensures that the safety of the public and consumers of medicinal cannabis and its by-products are adequately protected, by appropriately regulating the importation, sale, distribution, possession, purchase, manufacture, cultivation, transportation and exportation of medicinal cannabis.

• 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.

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.

Cannabis means all parts of any plant of the genus cannabis including any resin obtained from the plant.