Cabinet Endorses 3rd Annual Cannabis Festival 2026 as Strategic National Initiative

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has officially approved and endorsed the 3rd Annual Antigua & Barbuda Cannabis (ABC) Festival 2026, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the responsible and regulated development of the country’s medicinal cannabis industry.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, told reporters that the approval signals the Government’s confidence in the Festival as a structured and forward-looking national initiative.

The ABC Festival 2026 is scheduled to take place from April 17–20, 2026 in St. John’s and other designated locations across the island.

Under the theme “Connect. Celebrate. Rejuvenate.” the four-day event is designed to blend education, economic opportunity, cultural expression, and wellness tourism, while positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a niche leader in the global medicinal cannabis space.

Merchant explained that Cabinet views the Festival as more than a cultural event, describing it as a strategic platform to drive economic impact, stimulate investment, and strengthen the country’s international brand in a carefully regulated industry.

Among the key features of the Festival will be:
•⁠ ⁠A high-level Cannabis Educational Conference and Trade Show at the American University of Antigua, bringing together regional and international experts, investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
•⁠ ⁠A Sacred Gathering in Liberta, St. Paul’s, highlighting the spiritual and traditional dimensions of cannabis within the Rastafari community.
•⁠ ⁠A culminating Island Experience and Sunset Cruise focused on wellness, networking, and destination promotion.

According to Merchant, Cabinet recognized that the Festival provides a responsible framework to educate the public about cannabis health and wellness applications, combat stigma through science-based information, promote regulatory best practices, and address substance misuse through public awareness initiatives centred on responsible use.

He noted that the Government sees significant potential for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic diversification within the medicinal cannabis sector, particularly as global demand for regulated products continues to expand.

The Cabinet’s endorsement formally establishes the ABC Festival 2026 as a national initiative aligned with Antigua and Barbuda’s broader sustainable development goals and its vision for a modern, transparent, and well-regulated medicinal cannabis industry.