Gov’t implementing restrictions on smoking tobacco
The government is planning to crack down on, and implement restrictions as it relates to the smoking of tobacco products in the British Virgin Islands.
Governor John Rankin indicated in the House of Assembly this week that this will take the form of legislative amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act.
“Government will seek to amend the Tobacco Products Control Act, 2006 (No 18 of 2006) to provide for restrictions on the use of electronic smoking devices and the creation of the new offences of prohibiting smoking in a public place, smoking by a person under 18 years of age, and smoking in a motor vehicle while a person under 18 years of age is present,” Governor Rankin said on Tuesday during is Throne Speech to outline government’s legislative agenda for the upcoming year.
This news follow reports from Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley that the government has made headway with the United Kingdom as it relates to developing a medical marijuana industry for the territory.
Following his trip to the UK last week, Dr Wheatley announced that he had “very good discussions” on medicinal cannabis; “particularly with respect to the licensing of medical practitioners in the Virgin Islands to administer medicinal cannabis to patients”.
“We have found a way forward on this aspect of medicinal cannabis and we are proceeding to put the necessary regimes in place for approvals,” Dr Wheatley said at a recent press conference.
Based on indications from Dr Natalio Wheatley, the BVI may not need to rely on the Cannabis Licensing Act — the legislation that sets the framework for the establishment of a local medical marijuana industry — to get things started. The Act has been wrapped up in UK red tape for almost three years now.
“As you know, there was the Cannabis Licensing Act that was due for assent. We’ll have discussions as to whether that’s the way we want to go right now because we have legislation on our books that allows the Minister for Health to be able to create regulations that will essentially allow for cannabis to be legally administered in the BVI,” the Premier explained.
We’ve now found a way forward for medical marijuana — Premier
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Stop a Tola man smoking in he car, you have to be joking in this lawless land. Go inhale the government fumes at Pockwood Pond 24/7
This is good but where are the restrictions on junk foods and other cancer causing products that are imported into the country? Nobody is checking standards or expiration dates of goods in supermarkets where kids and everyone else eat everyday.
NO Legislation with respect to open burning at the GOVERNMENT SPONSORED GARBAGE DUMP but they are here focused on bullshit that nobody will enforce anyway! Government is allowed to burn garbage openly and let sewage run in the streets but do not smoke your vape pen LOL!
Government needs to stop intruding in our private lives. You can’t even legislate yourselves or enforce basic laws.
Sick of big brothers intrusion on basic civil liberties.
How about sorting traffic laws, basic sanitation management, incinerator, health services, noise pollution, garbage, education, ….. list goes on and on.
Local people don’t smoke tobacco so this is all about placing more restrictions on foreigners. Maybe we should also have some restrictions on eating fried chicken.
this is not an issue, please address real problems, like the cost of living !! POWER, FOOD SANITATION AND WATER
Good move, then we can pass by the watering hole and bamboushay without having to cover our noses