Caye Caulker Rejects Cannabis Legalisation in Historic Referendum

Caye Caulker residents turned out on October 8 to vote on the island’s historic cannabis referendum, and the verdict was “No.” By the time polls closed at 6:00 p.m. and the count was completed, officials reported a majority of voters rejecting the proposal and a small number in support.

The referendum asked whether the Government of Belize should move forward with legislation to establish a regulated cannabis industry, with a share of the revenue earmarked for the island and its people. The “No” result means the initiative will not advance under the current proposal.

The rejection comes after weeks of heated debate that split the community. The “Hope Not Dope” campaign, led by long-time resident Celina Fuentes, rallied strong opposition to the measure. “We can’t fool ourselves—street sales won’t disappear. Other countries still struggle with that, even after legalisation. And here in Caye Caulker, we risk a turf war,” she cautioned.

Meanwhile, pro-cannabis voices like Councillor Ilya Rosado and international advocate Lorena Beltran expressed disappointment at the outcome. Rosado had argued that legalisation could provide funding for schools, health care, and critical infrastructure, while Beltran stressed the potential for increased tourism and jobs.