Cannabis Advisory Board requires Metrc QR codes, cuts event permit fee, standardizes 250-foot buffer
At its February 12, 2026 meeting, the Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board voted to require Metrc Retail ID QR codes on every dispensary product, replaced the flat $1,500 temporary event permit fee with a $250 single-event / $1,500 multi-event structure, and adopted a straight-line standard for the 250-foot buffer from schools and churches.
· Updated April 12, 2026
February 12, 2026. The Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board approved three operational policy measures at its February Zoom meeting as the territory prepares for regulated cannabis sales. Present at the meeting were Chair Dr. Catherine Kean, Dr. Gary Jett, Christopher Jones, Bernisha Liburd, and Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. Executive Director Joanne Moorehead reported on behalf of the Office of Cannabis Regulation.
Metrc QR code on every product
The Board voted unanimously to require that every cannabis product sold in a licensed Virgin Islands dispensary carry a Metrc Retail ID QR code. Consumers scanning the code will see testing results, harvest data, and batch information pulled directly from Metrc’s seed-to-sale tracking system. Executive Director Moorehead defended the requirement as a consumer-protection measure: “What this does is ensure consumers are getting accurate, real-time information directly from Metrc. It eliminates the issue of outdated or broken links and provides transparency about the product they are purchasing.” Board members framed the vote as aligning the Virgin Islands with emerging national cannabis compliance standards.
Event permits cut from $1,500 flat to a two-tier schedule
The Board also replaced the existing flat $1,500 fee for Temporary Cannabis Use Permits at public events with a two-tier schedule. A single-event permit now costs $250. A multi-event permit, valid for up to 12 events within a 12-month period, remains at $1,500. Board members described the prior flat fee as cost-prohibitive for one-time events. The permits apply to specific dates, times, and locations, and are not a substitute for an Adult Use Lounge Permit. Sales remain prohibited at these events, and event promoters are responsible for restricting access to adults 21 and older.
250-foot buffer: straight line from closest point to closest point
The Board standardized how the 250-foot buffer between cannabis activity and sensitive-use properties is measured. The buffer is now a straight-line distance from the closest point of the cannabis activity area to the closest point of the sensitive-use property line, applied to schools, houses of worship, and other places where children congregate. Waivers of the 250-foot requirement are available only within designated historic towns: Christiansted, Frederiksted, Charlotte Amalie, and Cruz Bay. The buffer distance itself traces back to Act 8925, which in 2024 rewrote the § 797(m) lounge and § 779(d)(4) home cultivation buffers from earlier 500-foot and 1,000-foot rules down to 250 feet.
90-day rulemaking clock on Act 9072
Executive Director Moorehead opened the meeting with a status report on Act 9072, signed by Governor Bryan on January 23, 2026. “OCR now has 90 days from Jan. 23 to promulgate regulations and inform those interested in obtaining an intoxicating hemp retailer license what that process will look like,” she said. That window closes on April 23, 2026. Moorehead clarified that industrial hemp, covered by the 0.3 percent delta-9 THC threshold, remains under the Department of Agriculture’s jurisdiction and is not part of the Office of Cannabis Regulation’s new retail track. Retailers who previously sold delta-8, delta-10, or THCA products must keep that inventory in private storage until the rules and license framework are in place.
Licensing progress
Moorehead’s Office of Cannabis Regulation report updated the licensing tally. 14 Commercial Cultivation Licenses have been conditionally approved, with status meetings completed for every licensee. Eight Micro Cultivation Permits have also been conditionally approved. The 10 conditional Cannabis Dispensary Licenses from January 16 are in build-out. Nine Manufacturing License applications are under review, with decisions expected by the end of March. A cannabis testing laboratory has been selected through a procurement process but not yet announced publicly, pending final notification to respondents. Research and Development applications remain open, and Transporter Certifications and Third-Party Vendor applications are expected to post soon.
What to watch
The next Cannabis Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2026. The April 23 deadline for the Office of Cannabis Regulation to promulgate Intoxicating Hemp Retailer License rules is the next hard clock on the calendar. The operator dispensary guide covers the Metrc integration requirement and the 250-foot buffer rule.