Antigua And Barbuda Wants To Become A Cannabis Tourism Hotspot
Antigua and Barbuda is an independent dual-island nation in the Caribbean region. The country is already a top international destination for tourists from around the world due to being home to 365 amazing beaches, festivals, world-class sailing, food, and culture. If the nation’s emerging cannabis industry has its way, Antigua and Barbuda will also be a top destination for cannabis tourism.
“Antigua and Barbuda’s evolving cannabis sector is increasingly moving beyond the initial debate over legalization and cultivation, with recent developments placing new attention on cannabis tourism, public education and the country’s ability to turn its existing regulatory framework into broader economic and social opportunities.” reported ZIZ Broadcasting.
“The tourism proposal came from High Priest Selah, also known as Conneal Christian, leader of the Nyabinghi Order in Antigua, who argued that the country’s tropical climate, natural environment and Rastafari heritage give it advantages that could be developed into a distinct cannabis tourism product.” the outlet also reported.
The Cannabis Act (2018) legalized “the regulation and control of cannabis for religious use, by documented members of registered religious organizations, to uphold the constitutional rights afforded to each citizen of Antigua and Barbuda; And to provide for the regulation and control of cannabis for medicinal and scientific use within Antigua and Barbuda.”
The measure also resulted in the creation of the Antigua and Barbuda Medicinal Cannabis Authority to oversee the nation’s industry. Amendment measures were approved in 2021 and 2022, which further modernized the nation’s cannabis laws and industry regulations.
According to the Medicinal Cannabis Authority’s website, the nation, which has a population of roughly 95,000 people, is currently home to over 5,000 registered medical cannabis patients and two licensed dispensaries. Analysts at Grand View Research estimate that the global cannabis tourism sector could reach a projected $23.7 billion by 2030.
