The U.S. Virgin Islands legalized medical cannabis in 2014 through a voter-approved referendum. On January 19, 2019, U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed into law the Medical Cannabis Patient Care Act, setting up a medical cannabis program for both Virgin Islands residents and medical tourists.

The Virgin Islands Medical Cannabis Patient Care Act allows qualified patients to obtain, possess and consume medical cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

The qualifying conditions are cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, hospice care, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, neuropathic pain, autism, arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain, opiate use disorder, or the treatment of these conditions or conditions that cause cachexia or wasting, severe nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms.

Qualifying residents can possess up to 4 ounces of medical cannabis, 1 ounce of concentrate and 2 ounces of products such as edibles at a time and possession for qualifying non-residents will be limited at 3 ounces of medical cannabis.

The act also establishes cultivation facilities (up to 1,000 plants), cannabis testing facilities, cannabis product manufacturing facilities, and dispensaries.

Taxes and fees:

  • Application fees range from $500 to $5,000.
  • A 10% excise fee is levied on transfers to dispensaries and manufacturing facilities.
  • A 5% excise fee is levied on sales to patients.

On August 10, 2022, the V.I. Cannabis Advisory Board (VICAB) approved regulations for its medical cannabis program. The Virgin Islands Cannabis Market is expected to launch in 2023.

On January 18, 2023, the U.S. Virgin Islands legalized adult-use cannabis after Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed into law the legalization bill, allowing those 21 and older to possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis, a half ounce of concentrate and 1 ounce of products such as edibles for recreational uses. Dispensaries will levy a tax of at least 18% on recreational cannabis sales. The Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR) will have exclusive authority to create rules and regulations related to the cultivation, production, sale, provision, testing, licensing and use of cannabis.


U.S. Virgin Islands Cannabis Market Infographics


'70% ready to go' business plan templates

Our cannabis financial models and cannabis business plan templates will help you estimate how much it costs to start and operate your own cannabis business, to build all revenue and cost line-items monthly over a flexible seven year period, and then summarize the monthly results into quarters and years for an easy view into the various time periods. We also offer investor pitch deck templates.

Best Selling Templates