16. Can a minor be prescribed medicinal cannabis?

According to the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Industry Act, 2019 the parent or guardian of a patient who is a minor shall obtain a certificate in writing from a medical practitioner certifying that the use of medicinal cannabis is necessary in the case of that minor, and the parent or guardian shall consent in writing to the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of the minor.

The Act also states that 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.

Any person who is under the age of 18 years shall not be designated as a caregiver.

17. How will sale of medicinal cannabis to minors be addressed, particularly in light of those studies that suggest adolescents and pre-adolescents are more susceptible to negative psychological and medical consequences from using cannabis?

There will be no sale of medicinal cannabis to minors. Possession of cannabis on or near school premises, the inclusion of a child or young person in the drug trade and the purchase of cannabis from a child or young person is illegal and on indictment could result in imprisonment for life (Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act Chapter 131).

A parent or guardian of a patient who is a minor or young person can access medicinal cannabis via mechanisms described above. However, a person who is under the age of 18 years shall not be designated as a caregiver of a minor or young person.

Important Note:Cannabis affects the same biological system in the brain that is responsible for brain development. The earlier you start consuming cannabis, the more harm it can do. Starting as a teen, consuming frequently (daily or near daily) and over a long time (several months or years) increases the risk of mental health problems. These problems include dependence and disorders related to psychosis, anxiety and depression. [1] For more information, visit your doctor.

[1] Chadwick B, Miller ML, Hurd YL. Cannabis use during adolescent development: Susceptibility to psychiatric illness. Front Psychiatry 2013 Oct 14;4:129.

• 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.

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.

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.

Some people use medicinal cannabis for their health problems. Deciding if medicinal cannabis is appropriate to treat your symptoms is best done in discussion with your doctor.Research so far has suggested that cannabinoid therapy is promising for the treatment of a number of different conditions.