Heyliger-Marten: Cannabis law moving local farmers remain focal the point

GREAT BAY--Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten provided an update on St. Maarten’s cannabis legislation and investment trajectory recently, framing the issue as both an economic opportunity and a policy decision that will be handled with clear rules, legal certainty, and measurable local benefit. In her comments, the Minister said the island’s cannabis framework is advancing through the formal legislative pipeline, and she underscored that Parliament of St. Maarten will ultimately determine whether the framework is approved.

The Minister described cannabis as economically “lucrative” from an industry standpoint. Her comments emphasized that the policy discussion, in her view, is not about personal consumption but about whether St. Maarten can structure a regulated industry in a way that brings revenue, creates opportunities, and includes local stakeholders.

Responding to concerns about the role of a foreign investor, the Minister said the procurement trajectory began before the current administration and included a full bidding process. She stated that only foreign companies were able to participate in that process, and that about 15 companies were involved, all foreign.

She added that the contract with the selected company has already been signed, and that attempting to reverse course now could expose government to litigation. She said the investor has already spent substantial resources, and she portrayed her current role as executing what is already in place rather than unilaterally canceling a signed agreement.

The Minister said she has pressed for local participation within the structure that exists, and indicated that at least 16 local farmers are expected to be included as part of the initiative. She presented this as a concrete step to ensure locals benefit, particularly in the context of wider concerns about strengthening local agriculture and preventing economic activity from bypassing residents.

The Minister stated that the cannabis law is currently with Department of Legal Affairs. She outlined the next procedural steps as review and processing through the Council of Advice, followed by further handling within the Council of Ministers, and then submission to Parliament.

She stressed that the framework cannot proceed without a law being passed, and said Parliament is the only body that can stop the process at this stage. She noted that the investor is also aware of this reality, because without enabling legislation, government cannot be held accountable for implementation.

In closing her remarks on the topic, the Minister reiterated that the next decisive step is legislative, not administrative: once the draft reaches Parliament, elected members will determine whether the law is approved, amended, or rejected. She presented that final vote as the point where public debate, national interest, and the required safeguards must be weighed.

Native Nations SXM, the Government of St. Maarten’s official partner in leading the island’s legalization and regulatory development alongside the Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group, has intensified its on-the-ground engagement while the draft law itself has yet to reach Parliament.

Native Nations SXM has signed letters of intent with local farmers for a cannabis farming program designed to pair outdoor cultivation with food production and market access, following an August 3, 2025 “Call to Farmers” meeting at the Rupert Maynard Community Center in St. Peters and subsequent one-on-one consultations.

The program model positions “Master Farmers” as independent entrepreneurs, supported by uptake agreements guaranteeing purchase of harvested crops, post-harvest testing and processing via a licensed facility, training at several levels, access to premium genetics, and potential startup loans up to USD 50,000 tied to quality and compliance requirements.

Food security is built into the model through crop rotation, with farmers planting cannabis on one lot and food crops such as cucumber, watermelon, and sage on another during the same cycle, then rotating, alongside plans for a daily, food-only farmers market adjacent to the fields.

Native Nations SXM has framed the work as a community development effort, stating, “This is about more than cannabis, it’s about sovereignty, inclusion, and community resilience,” while urging residents and entrepreneurs to stay engaged as the framework develops.

St. Maarten’s cannabis legalization effort began in 2022 when the Government launched a request for proposals to develop legislation. Native Nations was selected as the preferred partner in November 2023 and officially mandated in April 2024 to design the regulatory framework. Since July 2024, an intergovernmental working group has met weekly to advance the process.

Beyond the direct employment opportunities, the Social Economic Stimulus Model is expected to generate significant indirect economic benefits. The initiative will inject between 6 and 10 million dollars into the local construction and supply industries, contributing to infrastructure development and job creation in related fields. Additionally, the model is projected to boost tourism, with an estimated 15 to 25 percent increase in visitor numbers. This tourism bump will have a ripple effect on local businesses, hotels, and other service providers, further stimulating economic growth.

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