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OCR Says Cannabis Cultivation Could Begin Within Weeks, With Dispensaries Opening Before Year-End

Licensed cannabis cultivation could begin in the Virgin Islands within weeks, while at least two dispensaries may be ready to open before the end of 2026, Office of Cannabis Regulation Executive Director Joanne Moorehead told lawmakers Friday. Commercial sales, however, cannot begin until a product-testing laboratory is operational, with stakeholders advising OCR that the facility could be ready “by October.” The update came during OCR’s fiscal year 2027 budget hearing before the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance, where lawmakers pressed the agency over the pace of implementation and questioned whether its fees are sufficient to make the industry financially self-supporting. Moorehead said OCR continues working toward a marketplace “capable of withstanding scrutiny” and described its broader objective as creating a “safe, transparent, and increasingly self-sustaining regulatory program.” She said the office has been studying the experiences of other jurisdiction...