GREAT BAY--Regional Rastafari leader and cannabis policy advocate Ras Iroy will be among the featured speakers at the upcoming public forum “Building the Future of Cannabis Regulation,” where he will address the relationship between Rastafari, reparatory justice and the development of a sustainable cannabis industry in the Caribbean.
The event, hosted by the Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group, CLIWG, will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2026, from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the University of St. Martin. Admission is free and members of the public are encouraged to register in advance due to limited seating.
Ras Iroy’s presentation, titled “Cannabis and Rastafari: A Reparatory Approach to a Sustainable Cannabis Industry,” will revisit decades of Rastafari advocacy surrounding cannabis, known within the faith and culture as the Holy Herb, while examining how Caribbean governments can develop cannabis legislation that is inclusive, rights-based and responsive to the history of criminalization.
His presentation will revisit the findings of the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana and its report “Waiting to Exhale,” which examined the social, religious, health and legal implications of cannabis prohibition across the region.
Ras Iroy will also explore the longstanding relationship between cannabis and the Rastafari way of life, including the religious, cultural and social significance of the plant within Rastafari communities.
A central part of the presentation will focus on the Sankofa Maccabbee case and its implications for Rastafari rights and cannabis policy. Ras Iroy is expected to examine how the case contributed to the wider Caribbean conversation about religious freedom, cannabis possession and the treatment of Rastafari under existing laws.
He will also highlight legislative developments in St. Kitts and Nevis, where amendments have been introduced recognizing the rights and religious practices of the Rastafari community in relation to cannabis.
The presentation is expected to argue that the development of a cannabis industry should not be viewed only through the lens of commercial opportunity, but should also take into account the communities that advocated for cannabis reform long before legalization and regulation became mainstream policy discussions.
Ras Iroy will outline an inclusive Rastafari perspective on building a sustainable industry and will offer recommendations on how governments can incorporate social justice, cultural recognition, reparatory considerations and meaningful participation into future cannabis frameworks.
The discussion is particularly relevant as St. Maarten considers the development of its own legislative framework for cannabis. The August 14 forum is designed to bring together government representatives, healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, businesses, legal specialists and members of the community to examine evidence-based approaches to regulation, public health, science and economic development.
Ras Iroy currently serves as Chairman of the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation Inc., CRO Inc., and Chairman of the Organisation of Rastafari in Unity, ORU, the umbrella Rastafari organization in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Through those roles, he has worked to strengthen cooperation among Rastafari communities across the Caribbean while advancing cultural preservation, food security, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment and greater unity within the movement nationally, regionally and internationally.
He also serves as a Community Development Officer within the Nevis Island Administration, supporting community-based initiatives, civic participation and programs aimed at improving social wellbeing and sustainable community development.
His involvement in cannabis policy extends to his membership on the National Cannabis Authority, where he contributes to policy development and public education surrounding the responsible development of the cannabis sector.
Ras Iroy is also Co-Chairperson of the National Reparations Committee, contributing to advocacy and policy discussions surrounding reparatory justice for people of African descent.
His participation in the St. Maarten forum will bring a regional perspective to discussions about how cannabis regulation can balance public health, economic development, legal reform, social justice and cultural rights.
Other featured speakers at the event include medical cannabis physician Dr. Joseph Rosado, senior lecturer and researcher Dr. Machel A. Emanuel, and legal and policy expert Leandra Leslie-Cijntje.
The forum forms part of the Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group’s broader effort to support the development of St. Maarten’s cannabis legislative framework through evidence, education and public engagement.
The event will provide members of the public with an opportunity to hear from specialists, ask questions and participate in the wider discussion about the direction of cannabis policy in St. Maarten.
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