Caye Caulker Moves Closer to Cannabis Referendum

Caye Caulker is one step closer to holding a historic vote on the legalisation and regulation of cannabis. A petition spearheaded by Village Councillor Ilya Rosado was officially submitted to the Office of the Governor General in May after gathering the required number of signatures from registered voters.

The petition, which calls for a referendum on whether cannabis should be legally produced, distributed, and sold on the island, will now undergo verification by the Elections and Boundaries Department (EBD). Once the signatures are validated, the initiative will appear on the ballot during the upcoming referendum scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

“This is about giving the people of Caye Caulker the right to decide,” said Rosado. “The community has spoken clearly by signing this petition, and now it’s time for all eligible voters to have their say at the ballot box.”

The EBD has also reminded residents that the deadline to register as electors for the referendum is Thursday, September 11, 2025. Anyone applying after that date will not be eligible to vote since their applications will not undergo the required due diligence in time. A supplementary list of new applicants will be published on September 15, with objections accepted until September 25, after which the final voters’ list will be revised.

If approved, the cannabis measure could transform the island’s economy by creating jobs, generating new public revenues, and promoting responsible cannabis use under a regulated framework. Supporters argue that legalisation would position Caye Caulker as a progressive tourism destination while addressing long-standing questions around unregulated cannabis use.