Caye Caulker Leads Belize’s Cannabis Revolution

Belize may be on the brink of a major shift, and it’s going beyond casual marijuana consumption. It’s about science, health, tourism, and economic opportunity. In Caye Caulker, a bold proposal put forward by village councilor Ilya Rosado is gaining traction: a fully regulated cannabis industry that could change how the island community and, by extension, the country sees marijuana. From doctors to government officials, voices are coming together to say, “It’s time.” And at the heart of it all is a push for medical use that could bring real relief to real people. This morning, proponents of cannabis legalization took center stage at a press conference here in Belize City. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with our first report.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Medical marijuana is getting some serious attention in the world of brain health. Key ingredients like THC and CBD show real promise when it comes to treating a range of neurological conditions. From a purely medical and science-based point of view, Dr. Joel Cervantes is all in when it comes to legalizing medical marijuana.

 

Dr. Joel Cervantes, Neurologist

“As a doctor and as a scientist, I can say that there is a place for medical cannabis in Belize. We’re not the first country that’s going to go in this direction, we have first world countries and even developing nations that are doing this. We are at a disservice to ourselves if we don’t join this bandwagon, but it has to be done in a very regulated way. It’s not for just people to… okay, well it’s legal now and I can just take it for medicinal purposes. No.”

 

He’s not just jumping on a trend, Dr. Cervantes is looking at the research and saying, ‘Hey, this could really help people.’ Medical marijuana is making a real difference for people dealing with tough neurological conditions. We’re talking about relief from chronic pain, help with muscle stiffness in MS, better sleep, support for movement disorders, and even seizure control.

 

Dr. Joel Cervantes

“Responsible doctors, like myself and others in the community, have done the training and are parts of international groups of bodies that we are doing the research, that we are getting the clinical experience, we’re looking at the feedback. In my practice, on a daily basis, I prescribe products that contain CBD and other things.”

 

Prohibition costs a lot. Legalization, on the other hand, changes that, fixing decades of biased enforcement and potentially fueling a booming cannabis industry. Jobs, investment, tax revenue all add up. Plus, regulated cannabis is safer, with strict quality checks that weed bought on the street cannot match.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries

“What this would mean then, is that it has to pass, firstly, Cabinet and thereafter the House of Representatives, and thereafter the Senate. But what we are going through is what the churches have requested, a referendum. And so, I see the churches complaining about a referendum, but yet, they were the first ones to call for a referendum. And so, it will call for a specialized legislation that will be the Caye Caulker Cannabis Regulation.”

 

And yes, Caye Caulker is one of Belize’s top spots for tourists, no doubt about that. But while some locals worry that legalizing marijuana might scare off visitors, global trends are telling a different story. In fact, places that have gone the legal route are actually seeing more tourists, not less.

 

Lorena Beltran, International Cannabis Advocate

“We know that where cannabis has been legalized in different countries and cities and states, we see an increase, for example, in tourism. A study by Benzinga shows in Colorado, where, after legalization of cannabis, tourism increased by twenty-five percent and we went and looked into all different data out there about tourism [and] there was no place, no city, no nothing where tourism decreased after regulation. It actually increased.”

 

Politicians who support marijuana legalization aren’t simply making noise; they’re actually lining up with what most people believe today. It’s a move that reflects modern values and public opinion, showing that they’re listening and adapting to the times. Minister of New Growth Industries, Kareem Musa, shares a similar vision with Ilya Rosado, who is leading the push for a regulated cannabis industry on the island.

 

Kareem Musa

“He has been consulting with his islanders and they have concerns and they want to see certain things in the legislation. Obviously, there is no guarantee that Cabinet will accept it or the House will accept it, but that is where it starts, a consideration of proposals to amend the legislation. And what would that mean? That would mean the entire country continues with ten grams, legally, but the island of Caye Caulker would have a cultivation facility, and it would have a dispensary, and it would have an area for restaurant licenses. It would have regulations that would be solely for Caye Caulker, until we go national.”

 

Village Councilor Ilya Rosado says they’ve put together a draft proposal to present to the government. It’s a full framework, covering everything from cultivation and branding to dispensaries and delivery. But what really stands out is the focus on medicinal use, something Rosado says is especially important for his community.

 

Ilya Rosado, Village Councilor, Caye Caulker

“What we’ve created is a draft proposal to be presented to the government and we’ve included a few things that I will briefly summarize. So these include, of course, the different types of licenses which include cultivation licenses, processing, private brand licensing, dispensaries which are, of course, points of sale, delivery licenses, and what I think is one of the most important for myself and for my community is the medicinal aspect, and so, medicinal licenses for pharmacies and people who want to conduct research.”

 

And that’s a point neurologist Dr. Joel Cervantes is totally on board with. He sees the potential and fully supports the idea.

 

Dr. Joel Cervantes

“Quite simply, there is a place for medical cannabis from a scientific point of view.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.