Nelson Suggests Making Carambola Resort Zone To Freely Smoke Marijuana

ST. CROIX — It’s called the 420 Zone (pronounced four-twenty), and it’s a code that refers to the consumption of marijuana, and according to Wikipedia, “by extension, as a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture or simply cannabis itself.” Wikipedia adds that observances based on the number 420 include smoking marijuana around the time 4:20 p.m. and a.m. everyday, as well as smoking and celebrating marijuana on the date April 20, embraced by marijuana smokers around the world as “weed day”, according to the Huffington Post.

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, held at the Curriculum Center just west of Central High School, Senator Terrence “Positive” Nelson, in relaying his findings while on an medicinal marijuana expedition to Washington State and Colorado, said one of the ways the Virgin Islands could capitalize on the exploding marijuana industry, is to create a ‘420 Zone’, and suggested the Carambola Beach Resort & Spa as a possible location.

“I would like to see us consider Carambola as a 420 zone,” Nelson said. “We turn it into a 420-friendly hotel and even do the cultivating there and incorporate that into the whole maroon village thing. We’re talking big industry here,” he said. “I have ideas for you.”

During his talk at the press conference, the senator dabbled back and forth between some form of marijuana legalization and the drug’s medicinal use. Nelson had a hard time staying on topic, as he constantly gave hints of his ultimate goal.

VI Consortium asked the senator about his plans for full legalization, however, Nelson said his intentions are not important.

“When somebody asks about intentions, I intend to one day be rich and famous, and have a 5,000 square foot house overlooking the Caribbean sea, so my intentions are not what is present here today. I’m really trying to fulfill the question that was asked on the referendum, which was about medicinal marijuana,” he said.

Then, Nelson admitted to wanting to see more “liberal use” of the drug in the territory.

“Yes, personally, I will tell you that I’m interested in seeing more liberal use of cannabis, that’s my interest,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t “shell shock” the community. The senator, serving his sixth term in office, was careful to say that he asked the community for their input on medicinal marijuana before moving forward. He has also called for amendments to the marijuana decriminalization law, a bill sponsored by Nelson, arguing that it needed clarification.

“If we allow for up to an ounce, then how are those individuals going to acquire that ounce if there’s no form of cultivation,” Nelson said. But the decriminalization law was not intended to legalize smoking marijuana in the territory, nor its medicinal use, but rather to bar criminal charges for individuals caught with no more than an ounce.

“The whole idea of decriminalization,” Nelson said, “is to take it away from the criminals” and allow for proper businesses to sell legally the drug in lawful quantities.

“So, yes, I’d like to see some liberal availability,” he said.

While residents voted in favor of a medicinal marijuana industry in the territory, there has been no referendum on the drug’s full legalization.

For more on Nelson’s US marijuana expedition, go here.

Feature Image: Senator Nelson in Colorado visiting a medicinal marijuana cultivation garden