GREAT BAY--Researcher and policy advisor Leandra Leslie-Cyntje will be among the featured speakers at Friday’s “Building the Future of Cannabis Regulation” public forum, where she will bring a research and policy perspective to the discussion on cannabis legislation, with particular attention to its effects on young people. The forum will be moderated by Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, an educator, linguist, author and former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.
The forum will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the University of St. Martin and is hosted by the Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group.
Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. Seating is limited, and persons interested in participating are encouraged to register at www.workgroupsxm.com.
The event will bring together government representatives, healthcare professionals, researchers, legal specialists, academics, business representatives and members of the community for an evidence-based discussion on the future of cannabis regulation in St. Maarten.
Discussions will center on policy, public health, science and economic development, with organizers seeking to provide residents with an opportunity to learn the facts, hear from specialists, ask questions and participate in a wider national conversation on how St. Maarten approaches cannabis regulation.
Leslie-Cyntje is a seasoned researcher and policy advisor consultant and serves as the Kingdom Chair Representative for St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. She holds a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Leiden University, with a specialization in economics, research and governance.
Her career spans public administration, international development and higher education. She previously served as an Operations Officer with the United Nations Development Programme, held senior positions within the Government of St. Maarten and lectured in public policy writing at the University of St. Martin.
Her research includes comparative work across the Dutch Caribbean and examines questions surrounding governance, institutional capacity and public policy. Her forthcoming doctoral research will explore why formal autonomy does not always translate into practical self-governance.
At Friday’s forum, Leslie-Cyntje will draw on her research into the effects of cannabis legislation on young people, adding a youth and policy dimension to the broader discussion about the type of regulatory framework St. Maarten should pursue.
Arrindell holds a PhD in English linguistics from the University of Puerto Rico, with a specialization in Caribbean languages, as well as a master’s degree in education administration from the University of the Virgin Islands and a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Syracuse University.
She currently lectures in writing and Caribbean and women’s literature at Howard University and serves as President of the One St. Martin Association. She is also Immediate Past President of the Caribbean Studies Association and has remained active in research, education, culture and community affairs in St. Martin.
Her experience in education, public administration, research and community advocacy will guide the evening’s discussions and interaction between speakers and the audience.
Friday’s featured speaker lineup also includes Dr. Joseph Rosado, a medical cannabis physician; Dr. Machel A. Emanuel, senior lecturer and researcher; and Ras Iroy, cannabis researcher and advocate.
The forum is designed to examine cannabis regulation from several perspectives rather than through a single lens. Public health, medical access, scientific research, legal and policy development, responsible cultivation, economic opportunities and protection of young people are among the issues expected to form part of the wider discussion.
The Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group said the objective is to bring government, healthcare, academia, business and the community together to explore responsible and evidence-based approaches that can inform the continued development of St. Maarten’s cannabis legislative framework.
Building the Future of Cannabis Regulation takes place Friday, August 14, from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the University of St. Martin. Admission is free, everyone is welcome and seating is limited. Registration is available at www.workgroupsxm.com.
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