At the Cannabis Advisory Board meeting held Thursday, Executive Director Joanne Moorehead of the Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation provided a series of program and licensing updates, outlining the current status of medical, sacramental, and commercial cannabis programs across the territory.
Moorehead reported continued progress within the medical and sacramental cannabis program, noting growth in both practitioner and patient registrations. There are currently nine registered practitioners across the territory, including five on St. Thomas and four on St. Croix. Patient participation continues to increase, with 41 active registered patients and two pending registrations.
In licensing updates, Moorehead said two sacramental organizations currently have applications pending review. She also reported multiple conditional approvals within the commercial cultivation sector, including seven on St. Croix, five on St. Thomas, and one on St. John.
Within the manufacturing sector, the Office of Cannabis Regulation has received nine applications. Laboratory testing facility applications are currently under review, and dispensary applications are also under review at this time.
Moorehead further outlined ongoing regulatory development efforts, including coordination at the federal and local levels, engagement with third-party vendors, development of the transporter certification process, and planning for responsible vendor training requirements.
During the meeting, Moorehead also announced that the Office of Cannabis Regulation is now accepting Research and Development applications, providing opportunities for individuals and organizations to participate in cannabis research initiatives in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The application period opened on Dec. 15, 2025, and will close on Feb. 13.
Applicants must register as users on the OCR website and verify their accounts through a confirmation email from the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation at noreply@ocr.vi.gov. Once logged in, applicants can complete Cannabis Research and Development Part 1 directly on the website, upload supporting documents, and save their progress to complete at a later time. All required fields marked with a red asterisk must be completed.
After submitting Part 1, applicants will receive a unique application or ID number, which must be used to complete and submit Part 2. Applications will not be considered complete without payment of the $1,500 application fee, which must be submitted on or before Feb. 13, at 3 p.m. Payments may be made in person at the OCR or DLCA offices on St. Croix or St. Thomas during regular cashier hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Moorehead advised applicants that application submissions and payments may be completed separately but strongly encouraged interested parties not to wait until the final day to submit materials or fees. In cases of technical difficulty, applicants are encouraged to submit payment first and complete the online application before the midnight deadline.
Chair Dr. Catherine Kean and other members of the Cannabis Advisory Board praised the Office of Cannabis Regulation for its progress to date, commending the agency’s continued efforts to build a transparent, compliant, and well-regulated cannabis industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Responsible Vendor Training Program for cultivators is not yet available. Moorehead said the Office of Cannabis Regulation will share dates, details, and next steps once they are finalized. The next Cannabis Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12.
For more information, the public may contact the Office of Cannabis Regulation at info.ocr@ocr.vi.gov or visit the OCR website.
