Legislators in Grenada have passed legislation decriminalising cannabis for adults over 21 years of age, making it one of the latest Caribbean nations to reform its marijuana laws.
The Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Bill 2026, passed by the government on 20th January 2026, stipulates that possession of up to 56 grams of cannabis flower and up to 15 grams of resin, and home cultivation of up to four plants, will not lead to arrest or criminal penalties. Medical and therapeutic uses will be decriminalised, and provisions for commercial cultivation, manufacturing and research are included in the bill.
Minister for Agriculture, Lands and Forestry, Economic Development and Planning Lennox Andrews described the measure as “a transformative milestone toward cannabis reform” that prioritises “the health of individuals and safety of our youth, while finally unlocking therapeutic and economic power for all Grenadians”.
The new law provides a legal framework for the use and cultivation of cannabis within the Rastafarian religion in registered places of worship and at “exempt events” during religious ceremonies.
People with previous convictions for possession and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis will have their records expunged, and cases currently being heard for similar offences will be discontinued.
Criminal charges will also not be brought against those under the age of 21 who are caught with small amounts of cannabis. Instead, they will be entered into rehabilitation and counselling, with the aim of not burdening young people with criminal records.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell stated that he originally argued to have the age limit for cannabis decriminalisation set at 18, but had his mind changed by his colleagues, who persuaded him that brains are still developing in early adulthood. “Yes, there is always the bright side and the dark side…” the Prime Minister said. “We also recognise that there are serious medical risks and serious societal challenges that exist whether or not the policy continues to criminalise the use or possession.”
“There was passionate debate, we went back and forth…if you are an adult you are an adult, 18 is 18, we recognise 18, you can drive, you can vote, you can get married, so from my perspective you should be allowed at 18 if you do so wish to choose but I was in the minority,” Mitchell said during a debate on the bill. “And so I cede graciously to the medical experts, to the mental health experts who recognise that at 18 a brain is still developing.”
Leader of Government Business and Minister of Health Phillip Telesford told Grenada’s Parliament that “Our policy of decriminalisation will be paired with strict regulations to protect the youths and accompanied by a robust public education campaign and strong enforcement against intoxication while driving… The Government prioritises health and safety over short-term economic gains.”
The bill does not allow for a recreational cannabis market such as the one currently developing in Germany. There will be no legal sales of adult-use cannabis, smoking in public places will be banned with fines for those caught doing so in public doorways and within a certain distance of schools, and adults who “exploit” children for cannabis activities will face harsh penalties.
Attorney General Senator Claudette Joseph highlighted that “Grenada is one of the last jurisdictions to now move in the direction of the decriminalisation of cannabis and ultimately the establishment of a medical cannabis industry”. She stressed that decriminalisation does not mean unrestricted use; cannabis will remain controlled, with clear limits, defined offences, and enforcement mechanisms.
The government said it plans to develop a comprehensive national cannabis policy framework within three to six months, covering cultivation, processing, research, and medicinal use, while reducing the burden placed on the judicial system.
Granada joins a growing list of Caribbean countries that have embraced cannabis reform. Since the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued the 2018 report “Waiting to Exhale – Safeguarding our Future Through Responsible Socio-Legal Policy on Marijuana”, six of the 13 sovereign Caribbean nations have changed their cannabis laws, following Jamaica, which decriminalised cannabis in 2015.
The recommendations in the 2018 report move away from adult-use markets and instead advise member states on how to implement safe and regulated legal markets, while at the same time acknowledging harms caused to recreational users from prohibitionist laws.
A recent BBC article highlighted the burgeoning cannabis cultivation industry across the Caribbean. An estimated 800,000 people a year use cannabis in Jamaica, half of whom are tourists. Despite moves by the authorities, it is estimated that 90% of cannabis in the country is purchased through illicit channels. The new laws across the region are designed to combat this by encouraging a legal and regulated industry.
In Antigua, for example, illegal cultivators are offered a six-week course in how to enter the cannabis industry legally, instead of facing prosecution. “Twenty-two have already graduated, with two soon to transition to a medical business. The industry won’t be successful if the illicit market does as it pleases,” the BBC report states.
