The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) has established a National Ad Hoc Mirror Committee of the American Society for Testing and Materials International on Cannabis, (Committee D37).

The committee brings together representatives of educational and research institutions, state and non-state actors, with a wealth of knowledge and experience that will guide the participation in the ASTM committee and adoption of the appropriate standards, Director of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, Verne Emmanuel, explained.

The SLBS has an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ASTM International which is responsible for the development of American standards for testing and metrology. Under the terms of the MOU, Saint Lucia can join technical committees of the ASTM and contribute to the development of these standards.

In light of the growing regional interest in the use of Cannabis, the SLBS Ad Hoc Mirror Committee will review and follow the work being done by ASTM.

Representative of the Cannabis Movement of Saint Lucia, Randall Bain, said the move provided comfort that there will be structure when Saint Lucia is ready to get on board the cannabis train.

The mirror committee is expected to meet four times annually to review the standards for development that are under the work plan. The orientation and launch of the new committee took place on Friday, March 22, 2019.