The British Virgin Islands says it will soon implement laws relating to the restrictions on smoking tobacco products in public there.

Governor General John Ranking said when he delivered the throne speech recently that this will take the form of legislative amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act

“Government will seek to amend the Tobacco Products Control Act, 2006 (No 18 of 2006) to provide for restrictions on the use of electronic smoking devices and the creation of the new offenses of prohibiting smoking in a public place, smoking by a person under 18 years of age, and smoking in a motor vehicle while a person under 18 years of age is present,” Rankin said. 

Just recently, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said that the government has made headway with the United Kingdom about developing a medical marijuana industry for the territory saying “very good discussions on medicinal cannabis; “particularly with respect to the licensing of medical practitioners in the Virgin Islands to administer medicinal cannabis to patients”. 

“We have found a way forward on this aspect of medicinal cannabis and we are proceeding to put the necessary regimes in place for approvals,” Wheatley said.