Good morning Honorable Clifford Joseph Sr. and other Members of the thirty-sixth 
Legislature.  Thank you for having us the members of the Hemp Commission to 
appear before you today to testify on Bill 36-0105-An amendment to Title 7VIC that 
will prohibit the possession, sale or manufacturing of tetrahycanabinoloic acid, 
delta-6 THC, Delta THC and Delta 10 THC Products in the Virgin Islands and for 
other related purposes.   
I am Riise Richards, Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Agriculture and I 
serve as the Chairman of the Hemp Commission.  I thank the members of the 
Commission for their confidence in my ability.  It is an honor to present to you, the 
members of the Commission.  I must also add that this cadre of members are very 
committed to developing this industry within the territory that would unlock 
significant economic benefits to the territory.  The Honorable Justa Encarnacion, 
Commissioner of Health; Dr. Janis Valmond, Deputy Commissioner-Dept. Of 
Health; The Honorable Nathalie Hodge-Commissioner of Licensing and Consumer 
Affairs; Mr. Horace Graham Jr.-Asst. Commissioner- Department of licensing and 
Consumer Affairs; Attorney; Mr. Ian Clement Esq. Chief Deputy Attorney General; 
The Honorable Mario Brooks, Commissioner of Virgin Islands Police Department.  
The Commission has included the Director of the Porty Authority, Mr. Carlton 
Dowe, who is represented by Mr. Jerome Sheridan, Airport Manager.  Dr. Usman 
Adamu represents Dr. Safiya George, president of the University of the Virgin 
Islands.  I represent the Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Louis Petersen Jr.  Present 
with me from the Department of Agriculture is Mr. Clifford Joseph Jr., Director of 
the Hemp Program. 
It should be noted that Hemp, known as Cannabis Sativa L is one of the oldest 
cultivated crops known to mankind.  Hemp is not suitable for recreational use and is 
better suited for industrial use. Eg. Making rope, textiles, paper, animal feed and 
even being a food source, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the cultivation and sale of 
hemp and Hemp derive products that contain less than 0.3 % THC.  It is for this 
reason that we are here to fully support this proposed bill offered by Senator Clifford 
Joseph, Sr., According to the bill summary the purpose of the bill is to ban 
compounds like Delta8etc., Section 1 removes intoxicating derivatives of cannabis 
from the definition of hemp, which is good.  However, what is also needed is a clear 
definition of hemp or industrial hemp.  It should be noted that when these compounds 
are removed from the definition of hemp or industrial hemp, they may fall under the 
purview of the Office of Cannabis’s and the Cannabis Act.  This Bill falls 
predominantly under Title 7 Section 200 et seq, but the intoxicating cannabis 
products fall under Title 19, Section 775et. Seq. There does not appear to be any 
reference to the Cannabis Use Act or OCR.   
There is a concern that if Delta-8 is completely banned, retailers will not apply for 
permits from the Commission. The retailers would not be inclined to want to sell 
non-intoxicating hemp.  There also exists the possibility they may import products 
with packaging that outwardly complies with this Bill.  
As a body, the Commission supports the fact that the legislation would offer clarity 
by formally excluding psychoactive cannabinoids such as Deltas6-8 and 10 THC 
from the Hemp classification.  The drawback however is the possible proliferation 
of products coming in through the retail market that are untested and could contain 
Delta 6-8 and 10 THC that are often derived synthetically.  This does pose a very 
serious health and regulatory problem.  Equally important should be the ban on 
products that are packaged to mimic brands that are children’s snacks, beverages and 
candies.  The consumption of these products by children and vulnerable populations 
is an important public health issue.   
We can, however, ban products wholesale based on the counterfeit packaging itself 
under 12 V. I. C. 101, 102(a) as a deceptive trade practice.  
The omission does want Delta8, etc. to be banned, however, it lacks an enforcement 
arm and a budget for enforcement.  Under V.I. R.  & Reg. 77-5, the OCR is required 
to collaborate with the Commission and the V. I. Police Department on enforcement.  
The process of referring violations to the Department of Licensing and Consumer 
Affairs requires enforcement.  An officer must go into a convenience store, seize the 
offending products and issue a summons.  This summons would be for an 
administrative hearing on the possible violation.  The bill would have to provide for 
notice and an opportunity for the offender to be heard and it should also state who 
would have to conduct the hearing and issue the fine.  
The Commission has great and broad local government representation, we have 
Health, Justice, Police, the Port Authority, Agriculture and the University of the 
Virgin Islands. All of these agencies collectively create the structure that the 
Commission does not have by statute.  The Department of Agriculture does not have 
staff specifically assigned to perform administrative tasks, nor do we possess 
enforcement officers. Mr. Joseph and I do the administrative tasks, and we would 
rely on the Departments of Police and Licensing and Consumer Affairs for 
enforcement.   
As we contemplate the reality of banning Delta6, 8, and 10 THC, without having a 
laboratory or access to one, it is chilling.  As I stated previously, we can anticipate 
that our territory could be inundated with products with the Delta 6, 8, and 10 
products and that would be problematic. We have had complaints about persons 
purchasing these products, ingesting them and having adverse reactions to the 
products.  The Commission does not want this problem to become the norm within 
our communities.   
It is imperative that we address the issue of laboratories and testing of products.  I 
mentioned earlier that we can also hold retailers accountable through deceptive trade 
practices.  We urge that the legislation make accommodations for this course of 
action, and the Office of the Attorney General can provide information on the legal 
process for this action.   
This group of people on this Commission are all committed to ensuring that the 
Commission functions effectively and efficiently to safeguard our community and 
towards building a viable Hemp industry.  All members of this Commission or their 
designees have attended all the official meetings of the Commission.  Thank you, 
members of the Commission, for your diligence and commitment.   
In conclusion, thank you Senator Joseph for your work on this legislation.  Thank 
you for allowing me to make this presentation and for my colleagues also making 
their presentations.  I will ask the rest of you Senators to please support this 
legislation with some amendments as it has great potential to generate revenues for 
the territory.  Thank you and we are ready to answer your questions.