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 are the long-term effects of cannabis use?
Using cannabis frequently (daily or almost daily) and over a long time (several months or years) can[1]:
- Hurt your lungs and make it harder to breathe, if smoked
- Cannabis smoke may contain many of the same harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke
- Affect your mental health
- Frequent use of THC based products over a long time increases the risk of cannabis dependence
- Increased risk of developing psychotic disorders
- Early exposure of cannabis use during the adolescent years can impair brain development and functioning
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
[1] Weinstein, AM, Cohen, K. Synthetic and Non-synthetic Cannabinoid Drugs and Their Adverse Effects-A Review from Public Health Prospective. Frontiers in Public Health 2018; 6:1-8. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2018.00162.
What is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the active ingredient and naturally occurring cannabinoids in cannabis. It is the cannabinoid with the greatest psychoactive effect. It is considered to be the most active form, producing characteristic mood and associated perceptual changes.
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.
I’m a Patient how do I access Medicinal Cannabis?
11. How do you get medicinal cannabis?
A patient can only get access to medicinal cannabis as a prescription by a medical practitioner.
That prescription can only be filled by a pharmacist or authorised personnel in a pharmacy or therapeutic facility.
A pharmacist or authorised personnel in a pharmacy shall only dispense or supply medicinal cannabis on the submission by a patient or where applicable, a caregiver, of a prescription and a valid form of identification.
Upon dispensing medicinal cannabis to a patient (or, where applicable, a caregiver), a pharmacist or authorised personnel shall ensure that the label given in respect of the prescription has the information required by Pharmacy (Compounding and Dispensing of Drugs and Poisons) Regulations, 1986.
A pharmacist shall enter the information in a register kept by him/her and established for that purpose, in the prescribed manner.
A person who consumes medicinal cannabis without being authorised to use medicinal cannabis by a prescription or recommendation from a medical practitioner is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $100 000 or to imprisonment for a term of 10 years or to both.
12. How is medicinal cannabis administered?
Medical cannabis can be administered by a variety of formulations which may include vapours, tinctures, oromucosal sprays, oral forms, transdermal patches, ointments and suppositories.
13. Will there be rigorous testing done to medicinal cannabis?
The BMCLA in conjunction with accredited testing laboratories will facilitate the testing of medicinal cannabis to ensure the products meet safety and efficacy requirements.
14. Will there be clear guidelines for prescribing medicinal cannabis for the use of patients or will doctors be left to experiment?
The BMCLA and its Board, are responsible for regulating the medicinal cannabis industry, through the formulation and implementation of appropriate policies, procedures and guidelines, as well as establishing the code of practice for practitioners in the industry. We work closely with the Ministry of Health and Wellness via its regulatory bodies such as the Barbados Drug Service to ensure safe and evidence-based treatment options for patients. Currently, there are five legally-approved medicinal cannabis drugs, placed on the National Drug Formulary. Patients can access these drugs under the provisions of Section 12 of the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act Cap 131.
15. Are there dose limitations?
In circumstances where a prescription by a medical practitioner requires repeated usage over a period of 3 months, a pharmacy or therapeutic facility shall not dispense to that patient more than 30-day supply of individual does at a time.
Who cannot be a caregiver?
A person who is under the age of 18 years, or who is addicted to cannabis, shall not be designated as a caregiver.
What is Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are chemicals which interact with the endocannabinoid system in mammals. These can be found in the Cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids), endogenously derived (endocannabinoids) or synthesised chemically. Research has found that the cannabis plant produces approximately 120 cannabinoids and about 300 non-cannabinoid chemicals. The two main clinically relevant cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The most commonly known of the two is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical that is primarily responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis.