Bryan's second Ras Tafari Day proclamation again cites the law that legalized sacramental cannabis

As of July 9, 2026. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. issued a set of July proclamations on July 5 that names Thursday, July 23, 2026 as Ras Tafari Day in the territory, the second year of the observance. The release says Ras Tafari followers “recognize and profess the health benefits of the cannabis plant and utilize it in sacramental ceremonies for spiritual enlightenment.” It ties the observance to Act No. 8680, the Virgin Islands Cannabis Use Act, which Bryan signed on January 18, 2023, “legalizing the sacramental use of cannabis in the Virgin Islands.” Marijuana Moment noted the cannabis reference in its July 8 newsletter.

What the proclamation says

The July 5 release covers five observances: National Sports, Parks, and Recreation Month; Disability Pride Month; French Heritage Week (July 5 to 14); Juan Francisco Luis Day (July 10); and Ras Tafari Day (July 23). Only the Ras Tafari Day section mentions cannabis. Bryan closed the release by saying, “These proclamations reflect the diversity of our Virgin Islands community and the many histories, cultures, and traditions that continue to shape who we are.”

The 2025 Rastafari Day proclamation carried a formal government apology to the Rastafari community for past persecution, per the St. Thomas Source. The 2026 release does not repeat the apology.

What the law provides for sacramental use

The Cannabis Use Act created a sacramental use category alongside its medical and adult-use frameworks. Registered sacramental organizations and individual Sacramental Users may cultivate and possess cannabis for religious purposes, with a home-grow limit of six flowering and six immature plants. The Cannabis Advisory Board voted in June 2025 that people holding both medical and sacramental cards keep that same combined limit rather than doubling it. Registration runs through the Office of Cannabis Regulation.

OCR’s news archive carries a January 17, 2024 notice opening registration for practitioners and sacramental organizations. The office has not published a list or count of registered sacramental organizations. Its most recent post is the May 20 cannabis testing standards policy, which does not address sacramental registration.

Separate from the dispensary track

The sacramental provisions do not depend on the retail market. A registered sacramental organization does not need a dispensary license to grow or possess cannabis for religious use, though it does need to be registered with OCR.

Ten conditional dispensary licenses have been issued across St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, and none yet holds a Certificate to Operate. Executive Director Joanne Moorehead has tied the fall 2026 dispensary launch to banking access. OCR has given no public update on sacramental registration.

What to watch

• Whether OCR posts a sacramental registration update ahead of July 23.
• Whether any Ras Tafari Day event on the three islands involves a sacramental organization registered with OCR.
• Whether OCR publishes a count of registered sacramental organizations, which it has not done since opening registration in January 2024.