Mama Jane Sign in

Know the law

What buyers, users and sellers need to know about cannabis in Saint Lucia. We explain it in plain language and say where each rule comes from. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Where things stand

Saint Lucia has decriminalised small amounts but has not yet opened a licensed cannabis market.

  • In force Since September 2021, having 30 grams or less is not an offence. Households may grow up to 4 plants. Smoking in public is an offence.
  • In force The Regulated Substances Act, No. 26 of 2023 set up the Regulated Substances Authority (RSA). The RSA will license cannabis businesses.
  • Coming The Regulated Substances (Cannabis) Bill and its draft regulations (2025–26) will license cultivators, processors, transporters and dispensaries. Until they come into force, selling cannabis without a licence is still a crime under the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act.

Mama Jane is built to follow the new rules from day one: age 21+, ID at every handover, limits below the possession cap, and no public use. Orders are fulfilled only as the law and our RSA licence, once issued, allow.

21+Legal age. Under 21 you count as a "young person" and may not buy or have cannabis.
30 gPersonal possession limit. More than that is presumed to be for supply.
4 plantsHome-grow limit per household, not per person. Home-grown cannabis must not be sold.
No public useSmoking in public is an offence, including in bars, restaurants and clubs.
No drivingNever drive, ride, boat or operate machinery after use.
No bordersTaking cannabis into or out of Saint Lucia is illegal, even with a prescription.

1. If you use cannabis

  1. In force Possession. Having 30 grams or less of cannabis or cannabis resin is not an offence. If you have more than 30 grams, the law presumes it is for supply, and you must prove it is not. (Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act, Cap. 3.02, ss. 8(4)(e) and 8A, as amended by Act No. 13 of 2021.)
  2. In force Public smoking. You may not smoke cannabis in a public place. That includes any place open to the public, such as bars, restaurants, clubs and government offices. The fine is up to $1,500, and it does not go on your criminal record. An owner or manager who knowingly lets people smoke on their premises also commits the offence. A private home is not a public place. (Cap. 3.02, s. 27A.)
  3. In force Growing at home. You may grow up to 4 plants at your home. The limit is for the whole household, however many people live there. Growing more, or anywhere else, is an offence. (Cap. 3.02, s. 9; Cannabis Cultivation Regulations, S.I. No. 208 of 2021.)
  4. Coming Under the Bill, home growers must notify the RSA and keep plants away from young people. Five to eleven plants becomes an offence. Growing near a school is not allowed unless the plants cannot be seen. (Bill ss. 61, 62, 66–68.)
  5. Coming Smoking and vaping. Both stay banned in public places and on public buses. Use is not allowed in front of anyone under 21, and you may not give cannabis to anyone under 21. (Bill ss. 145, 146, 150.)
  6. Coming Impaired driving. Do not operate a car, boat, aircraft, heavy equipment or off-road vehicle while under the influence. Using cannabis while operating one is a more serious offence. (Bill ss. 148, 149.)
  7. Health. Effects of edibles can take up to two hours to start. Start low and go slow. Do not use while pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep all products out of reach of children.

2. If you buy

  1. Coming Buy only from licensed outlets. Under the Bill, over-the-counter products ("Class One medicinal cannabis") may be sold only by a business holding a Class One Dispensary Licence. Stronger "Class Two" products need a doctor's prescription and are sold only by licensed pharmacies. (Bill s. 98; Class One and Class Two Dispensary Regulations.)
  2. Coming Age and ID. The seller must confirm you are 21 or older, using government-issued ID, before the sale goes through. They may refuse you if you do not have ID. Mama Jane checks ID at every pickup and every delivery. (Class One Dispensary Regulations, rr. 6, 8, 32.)
  3. Limits. Stay within the 30 g possession limit. Mama Jane caps each order, and each 24 hours, at 28 g of cannabis, so a single order cannot put you over the limit.
  4. Coming What a legal product looks like:
    • sealed, tamper-evident, child-resistant packaging;
    • the RSA cannabis stamp, which tears when the pack is opened;
    • the standard cannabis symbol;
    • THC and CBD content;
    • a lot number and an expiry date;
    • the government warning.
    Do not buy loose or unlabelled product. (Packaging and Labelling Regulations, rr. 5–14; Levy Regulations; Bill ss. 116–117.)
  5. Coming The levy. A cannabis levy is charged at the point of sale, and the seller sends it to the RSA. Online sellers must tell you about it. (Bill ss. 114–130.)
  6. Buying for someone else or reselling is supply, and supply is a crime. Buy only for yourself.

3. If you are visiting

  1. The 30 g rule and the ban on public smoking apply to everyone on the island, residents and visitors alike.
  2. Do not bring cannabis into Saint Lucia or take it home. Carrying cannabis across international borders is illegal, even with a prescription from another country. (RSA, "Medicinal Cannabis: What You Should Know".)
  3. Coming A passport is accepted proof of age. Hotels and bars count as public places unless they hold a consumption-space licence. Ask before you light up anywhere.

4. If you sell, or want to

Selling, supplying or offering to supply cannabis is still an offence under the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act (s. 6). That stays true until the Cannabis law comes into force and the RSA grants a licence. Once it does, a seller must meet these rules.

  1. Get the right licence.
    • Selling Class One products needs a Class One Dispensary Licence from the RSA Board. The licence lasts up to 3 years.
    • Growing, processing, transporting, importing, exporting and consumption lounges each need their own licence.
    • Selling without a licence carries a fine of up to $200,000 or 5 years in prison.
    (Bill ss. 47, 98–110, Schedules 1 and 3; Class One Dispensary Regulations, rr. 5, 11, 17.)
  2. How to apply. Apply online at rsa.govt.lc/applications/cannabis. The form asks for:
    • your name and email;
    • your company name and address;
    • a copy of your National ID;
    • the completed application form.
    The draft regulations add more:
    • a business registration or incorporation certificate;
    • a business plan;
    • proof you may use the premises;
    • a security clearance for every owner, director and staff member;
    • a site plan showing CCTV, alarm and vault;
    • waste and pest plans;
    • the fee.
  3. Supply chain.
    • Stock must come from licensed sources, usually the Central Trading Entity.
    • Stock must be lab-tested, registered with the RSA and carry the levy stamp.
    • Every sale is recorded in the national seed-to-sale tracking system, which the RSA announced in April 2026.
    • Never break open packs or repackage.
    (Bill ss. 36, 45; Central Trading Entity, Processing and Documentation Regulations.)
  4. Staff.
    • Only staff aged 21 or over may serve customers or handle and transport cannabis.
    • No one under 18 may be employed.
    • All staff need a security clearance.
    • Staff must be trained within 30 days of hiring, including how to spot fake ID.
    (Class One Dispensary Regulations, rr. 54–57.)
  5. Selling rules.
    • Never sell to anyone under 21. The fine is up to $50,000, or $100,000 for a company, plus prison.
    • Give a receipt and keep monthly sales records.
    • Show prices including tax.
    • No self-service displays, vending machines or drive-throughs.
    • No alcohol or tobacco sales.
    • No consumption on the premises without a consumption-space licence.
    (Bill ss. 103, 112, 144; Class One Dispensary Regulations, rr. 7, 8, 42.)
  6. Advertising.
    • All marketing needs RSA authorisation.
    • Promotion is allowed only to adults 21+, for example behind an age gate online.
    • No health or therapeutic claims.
    • No testimonials or reviews.
    • No pictures of people, characters or animals.
    • No lifestyle or "glamorous" imagery.
    • No giveaways, raffles or "buy one get one".
    • No "sale", "free" or "discount" wording.
    (Bill ss. 69–72; Advertising and Marketing Regulations; Class One Dispensary Regulations, r. 42(5).)
  7. Merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs and stickers must not appeal to young people, and must carry the seller's licence number, permanently printed. (Bill s. 74; Advertising and Marketing Regulations.)
  8. Delivery and transport.
    • Carrying cannabis over the personal limit needs a transport licence or RSA permission.
    • Licensed transport uses unmarked vehicles, with no branding on vehicles or uniforms, plus manifests and set routes.
    • The draft rules do not yet say how home delivery to customers will work.
    Mama Jane will deliver only in the way the RSA allows. (Transportation Regulations; Bill s. 63.)
  9. Security and records.
    • A monitored alarm, HD CCTV kept for 30 days, and a vault or safe.
    • A stock count at least every 30 days.
    • Report a loss or theft to the police within 24 hours and to the RSA promptly.
    • Keep records for at least 2 years.
    (Class One Dispensary Regulations, rr. 23–29; Documentation, Auditing, Security and Safety Regulations.)
  10. Growers with home or legacy crops. Home-grown cannabis may not be sold. If you have been growing or supplying, look at the amnesty below and the RSA's legacy-operator route. Do not sell to shops informally: Mama Jane buys only from licensed sources.

5. Penalties at a glance

Amounts are in EC$. "Coming" penalties are from the draft Bill and may change before it passes.

WhatPenaltyStatus
Having 30 g or lessNot an offenceIn force
Having more than 30 gPresumed to be for supply (you must prove otherwise)In force
Smoking in a public placeFine up to $1,500 (not on your record)In force
Supplying or selling without a licenceDrug-supply offence, with heavy fines and prisonIn force
Having 30 g to under 60 g$500, then $1,000, then $2,000 plus up to 6 monthsComing
Having 60 g to under 1 lbUp to $50,000 or 2 yearsComing
Selling Class One without a dispensary licenceUp to $200,000 or 5 yearsComing
Selling to someone under 21Up to $50,000 or 2 years ($100,000 or 3 years for a company)Coming
Driving under the influenceUp to $50,000 or 2 years (ticket $500)Coming
Using while driving or operatingUp to $200,000 or 5 yearsComing
Smoking or vaping in publicTicket $500Coming
Giving cannabis to someone under 21Ticket $500 or prosecutionComing
Banned advertising or giveawaysUp to $200,000 or 5 yearsComing
Online seller not mentioning the levyUp to $10,000Coming

6. Amnesty for past growing and supply

  1. Coming The Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Cannabis Amnesty) Act, 2025 lets people who grew or supplied cannabis before the Act starts apply for a certificate of amnesty.
    • Apply to the Minister within an amnesty period announced in the Gazette, and declare your quantities and locations.
    • Once you hold a certificate, police may not arrest or charge you for the cannabis it covers.
    • Holders are treated as "legacy cannabis operators", who get a place in the new industry.
    (Amnesty Act ss. 3–16.)
  2. It is not an expungement law. People already convicted can still seek a pardon under section 75 of the Constitution (s. 17). Reports say a 2021 amendment to the criminal-records law cleared past convictions for 30 g or less. Check your own record with a lawyer.

7. The laws themselves

8. Regulated Substances Authority

Bisée, Castries · (758) 285-0836 · communications@rsa.govt.lc · rsa.govt.lc

This page is a plain-language summary to help you stay safe and legal. It is not legal advice. Many rules here come from drafts that may change before they pass, and section numbers may shift. Check the official text, or ask a Saint Lucian lawyer or the RSA, before you rely on it. See also our terms, safety and privacy.