§ 205. Defense for possession of hemp
(a) It is a defense to criminal charges to the possession or cultivation of hemp if: (1) The defendant was growing industrial hemp pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter; (2) The defendant has a valid, applicable, controlled substances registration from the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration; and (3) The defendant has […]
§ 206. Promotion of hemp research and development
(a) The Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands shall promote the research and development of markets for the Virgin Islands industrial hemp and products after the selection and establishment of the industrial hemp research program and the Industrial Hemp Commission, subject to the availability of adequate funds for these […]
§ 207. The Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission
(a) The Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission is established within the Department of Agriculture and consists of at least nine members as follows: (1) The President of the University of the Virgin Islands or the President’s designee; (2) The chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Planning or its successor: (3) The […]
§ 208. Adoption of federal regulations
The Department shall adopt the federal regulations regarding industrial hemp and any subsequent changes thereto.
§ 203. Rulemaking authority
The Commissioner and the University of the Virgin Islands shall promulgate regulations jointly for: (1) Testing of the industrial hemp during growth to determine tetrahydrocannabinol levels; (2) Supervision of the industrial hemp during its growth and harvest; (3) Assessment of a fee that is commensurate with the costs of the Commissioner’s regulatory activities in licensing, […]
§ 204. Disposition of fees
All fees assessed under this subchapter must be deposited into the Agriculture Revolving Fund established in 33 V.I.C. § 3018 for use by the Commissioner to administer and enforce the provisions of this subchapter.
§ 193. Tax and fee exemptions
Any person who on or before January 1, 2011, was engaged in agriculture as defined in this chapter, or who after January 1, 2011, becomes engaged in agriculture, and who continues to be engaged in agriculture, shall be exempt from payment to the Government of the Virgin Islands of the following: (a) any trade or […]
§ 194. Rules and regulations
The Commissioner of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the Governor, and in cooperation with the Commissioner of Finance and the Director of the Internal Revenue Bureau, shall issue, not later than sixty days after enactment of this chapter, such rules and regulations as he finds necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
§ 195. Certification of applicant
The Commissioner of Agriculture shall determine whether an applicant for the benefits provided under this chapter shall qualify under the provisions of this chapter for said exemptions and shall certify his findings to the Commissioner of Finance. Any person, individual, corporation or legal entity that provides false documents or statements, knowingly and with the intent […]
§ 196. Refund of taxes or fees
Any applicant who qualifies for the exemptions provided in this chapter shall have refunded to him, from the Treasury of the United States Virgin Islands, any taxes or fees he may have paid on or after January 1, 2011, the payment of which he is exempt by virtue of this chapter.