Antigua and Barbuda, an independent dual-island nation in the Caribbean, is already a top international destination thanks to its 365 beaches, festivals, world-class sailing, food, and culture. Now the nation’s emerging cannabis industry wants to make the country a leading destination for cannabis tourism.
The tourism proposal came from High Priest Selah, also known as Conneal Christian, leader of the Nyabinghi Order in Antigua. He argued that the country’s tropical climate, natural environment, and Rastafari heritage give it advantages that could be developed into a distinct cannabis tourism product.
“Antigua and Barbuda’s evolving cannabis sector is increasingly moving beyond the initial debate over legalization and cultivation, with recent developments placing new attention on cannabis tourism, public education and the country’s ability to turn its existing regulatory framework into broader economic and social opportunities,” reported ZIZ Broadcasting.
The proposal signals a shift in focus for the country’s cannabis sector. Attention is now turning toward how existing rules can be used to create economic and social opportunities.
The Cannabis Act (2018) legalized “the regulation and control of cannabis for religious use, by documented members of registered religious organizations, to uphold the constitutional rights afforded to each citizen of Antigua and Barbuda; And to provide for the regulation and control of cannabis for medicinal and scientific use within Antigua and Barbuda.”
The measure also created the Antigua and Barbuda Medicinal Cannabis Authority to oversee the nation’s industry.
According to the Medicinal Cannabis Authority’s website, the nation of roughly 95,000 people is currently home to over 5,000 registered medical cannabis patients. The country also has two licensed dispensaries.
These figures show that a functioning medical cannabis system is already in place. The tourism proposal would build on that existing regulatory framework.
Analysts at Grand View Research estimate that the global cannabis tourism sector could reach a projected $23.7 billion by 2030. That projected figure underscores the potential scale of the market Antigua and Barbuda hopes to enter.
The country’s established tourism industry gives it an existing base of international visitors. Cannabis tourism would add a new offering to a destination already known for its beaches and culture.
The proposal from High Priest Selah is now part of the national conversation about the industry’s next phase.
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