US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. called on the Senate to pass his recreational cannabis bill during the State of the Territory Address.

On January 13, 2020 Governor Bryan gave his second State of the Territory Address since being elected. The first since he signed the VI Medical Cannabis Patient Care Act (MCPCA).

Since signing the MCPCA, almost a year ago, little has been done to implement the law.

December 31st, 2019 was the deadline for the Governor to nominate, and the Senate to approve, the VI Cannabis Advisory Board. Only five of the nine members have been approved.

An amendment to the MCPCA to extend the VICAB’s formation has not been introduced. The USVI is now in violation of the MCPCA, since it has failed to name the VICAB members.

However on December 3rd, 2019 Governor Bryan made a surprise announcement of a recreational cannabis amendment to the MCPCA. The bill did not receive a warm welcome from 33rd Legislature.

Since the Senate’s initial hearing on the recreational amendment, there has not been any further hearings.

State of the Territory Address

Here’s what Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s had to say about the recreational cannabis amendment during the 2020 State of the Territory Address: