Grenada approves decriminalization of cannabis for adult use and foresees medicinal industry

Grenada's Parliament, a Caribbean country, has approved amendments to the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2026, establishing a new legal framework that decriminalizes the use of cannabis for adults on the island. 

The measure, which received bipartisan support, allows for limited quantities of possession and home cultivation, while also laying the groundwork for the development of a future medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp industry.

The new legislation marks a transition from a punitive policy to an approach focused on public health and social justice.

Possession Limits and Home Cultivation

Under the new rules, adults aged 21 and over can legally carry up to 56 grams of cannabis and 15 grams of resin. The legislation also removes penalties for cultivation in households, authorizing up to four plants per household for private use, regardless of whether the purpose is medicinal or horticultural.

Authorities emphasize, however, that the reform does not constitute full legalization, as it does not establish a recreational over-the-counter market. Public consumption remains prohibited, with strict restrictions and fixed penalties for use near schools and public buildings.

Minimum Age Definition and Parliamentary Debate

Setting the minimum age at 21 was one of the central points of the legislative discussions. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell reported to Parliament that he initially advocated for the age of 18 — corresponding to legal adulthood in the country — but the final decision was guided by medical criteria.

“There was a heated debate, we went back and forth… if you're an adult, you're an adult, 18 is 18 (...), but I was in the minority,” Mitchell said. “I thank the medical specialists, the mental health experts who recognize that at 18 years old the brain is still developing,” as reported by NewsWeed.

For individuals aged 18 to 20 found in possession of the substance, the law replaces the criminal process with mandatory rehabilitation and counseling measures, avoiding the creation of criminal records. Supplying cannabis to individuals under 21 remains subject to severe sanctions.

Social Justice and Religious Use

The legislation incorporates measures for historical reparations and religious freedom. The text recognizes the constitutional right of the Rastafarian community to sacramental use of the herb in registered places of worship and designated events, including the granting of specific cultivation licenses.

Furthermore, the law provides for the automatic expungement of criminal records for minor cannabis-related offenses and the dismissal of ongoing judicial proceedings involving small quantities of the plant.

Next Steps for the Medicinal Sector

Attorney General Claudette Joseph highlighted that the approval aligns Grenada with the regional movement to reform drug laws, paving the way for a regulated sector.

“Grenada is now one of the last jurisdictions to move towards the decriminalization of cannabis and, ultimately, the creation of a medicinal cannabis industry,” Joseph stated.

The Grenadian government plans to develop, within a timeframe of three to six months, a comprehensive national policy that will regulate the cultivation, processing, research, and medicinal use of the plant.

With information from NewsWeed