Why the DPP’s Crime Warnings and Worker Health Concerns in Barbados Should Alarm Us All

Recently, a caller on Barbados’ popular radio show Brass Tacks cried out in frustration:

“I can’t sleep, man! I’m breathing it in all night long!”

The source of his distress? The pungent, inescapable odor from a nearby medicinal cannabis facility.

While many celebrate the economic promise of Barbados’ emerging cannabis industry, this haunting testimony exposes a deeper issue — are we ignoring the very real threats to worker health, public safety, and societal well-being in the rush to cash in on "green gold"?

________________________________________

🌿 An Industry with Promise — and Peril

With hopes pinned on medicinal cannabis to spark post-pandemic recovery, the Barbadian government has laid the regulatory groundwork for a potentially lucrative sector. If banking barriers are resolved, the industry could:

• Create jobs in farming, distribution, research, and compliance

• Open international export markets

• Provide farmers and entrepreneurs new streams of income

But behind this glossy potential lies a hidden cost — the health of workers and the social fallout spreading beyond facility gates.

________________________________________

🛑 Second-Hand High & Other Workplace Hazards

Cannabis cultivation isn’t just about soil and sunshine. Inside grow rooms and processing labs, employees are exposed daily to:

• Potent terpenes that can irritate airways and disrupt sleep

• Pesticides and mold spores that trigger allergies and respiratory issues

• Poor ventilation, which can lead to light-headedness, dizziness, and even impaired functioning

In international cannabis facilities, reports have surfaced of employees experiencing symptoms of intoxication—without ever consuming the product. This is no minor concern: foggy thinking, reduced coordination, and slower reaction times can lead to serious accidents, especially around cutting tools and machinery.

________________________________________

⚖️ The Safety and Health at Work Act — A Shield for Workers

Barbados’ Safety and Health at Work Act (SHaW Act) was designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of workers in all sectors, including emerging ones like cannabis cultivation. The Act includes the following relevant clauses:

 Section 6 – Employers must ensure a safe working environment, protecting employees from hazards.

 Section 7 – Employers must safeguard visitors and contractors, ensuring workplace safety beyond employees.

 Section 8 – Safe access and employment conditions, crucial for handling medicinal cannabis.

 Section 11-19 – Machinery safety, training, and supervision—important for processing and cultivation.

 Section 45-48 – Handling dangerous fumes, gases, and flammable substances—critical for extraction and storage.

 Section 49-56 – Cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, and noise control—ensuring a safe environment for workers.

 Section 50 – Proper disposal of waste and effluents—important for cannabis cultivation and processing.

 Section 57-65 – Welfare provisions like drinking water, sanitary conveniences, and first aid.

 Section 67-72 – Medical examinations and fitness assessments—relevant for employees handling medicinal cannabis

 🔹 Section 103 – Employee Consultation - Employers must consult employees or their representatives on matters related to health and safety — a vital process when navigating a new and relatively unregulated industry.

Medicinal Cannabis Industry Regulations, 2020

The Medicinal Cannabis Industry Regulations, 2020, while not framed as an employment code, establish a regulatory framework that directly impacts the working environment, responsibilities of employers, and the safety and wellbeing of employees within Barbados’ emerging medicinal cannabis sector. These regulations are primarily aimed at ensuring the secure, transparent, and compliant handling of medicinal cannabis—from cultivation to disposal—but they also impose critical duties on license holders (employers) that intersect with labour and occupational safety laws.

Although these regulations do not directly define employee rights or employer responsibilities in the same manner as the Employment Rights Act or the Safety and Health at Work Act (SHaWA), they nonetheless create legally binding standards that affect workplace operations. For example, employers are required to safeguard employees through security protocols, workplace tracking systems, health safeguards related to product handling, and adherence to disposal practices that mitigate environmental and health risks.

As such, compliance with the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Regulations, 2020 is essential not only for regulatory licensing but also for meeting broader legal obligations under occupational safety legislation. The following selected provisions illustrate how the regulations support and reinforce employer responsibilities to protect workers, ensure product integrity, and maintain safe and transparent operations in the medicinal cannabis industry.

1. Regulation 16 – Employers must implement security measures to protect employees and cannabis products.

2. Regulation 17 – Employers must develop a Security Master Plan to prevent theft and unauthorized access.

3. Regulation 26 – Electronic tracking ensures compliance and prevents illegal handling of medicinal cannabis. This protects employers from false accusations of misconduct and provides employees with a clear record of compliance. 

4. Regulation 27 – Mandatory testing ensures product safety, protecting both employees and consumers.

5. Regulation 31 – Security personnel requirements ensure workplace safety.

6. Regulation 32-33 – Employers must maintain accurate records and registers for transparency.

7. Regulation 35-39 – Packaging and labeling requirements protect employees from exposure to harmful substances.

8. Regulation 40-41 – Suspension or revocation of licenses ensures compliance with safety standards.

9. Regulation 42 – Proper disposal of medicinal cannabis prevents environmental hazards

Failure to comply can result in penalties, lawsuits, and even closure of the business.

________________________________________

💼 "Getting High on the Job?" A Real and Growing Concern

In poorly ventilated facilities, passive exposure can be more than a nuisance — it can lead to cognitive impairment, fatigue, and anxiety, all while employees are expected to perform precision-based tasks. This makes the workplace a ticking time bomb for accidents and liability.

Employers must respond now, with:

• Air filtration systems

• Strict impairment policies

• Mandatory safety training

• Regular health monitoring

Proactive compliance isn’t just good business — it’s the law.

________________________________________

💣 DPP Seale’s Explosive Warning: Cannabis and Crime Are Intertwined

While public debate circles around health and money, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Aliston Seale SC dropped a bombshell.

“Most of the crime in Barbados has some drug use connection... I have empirical evidence because I have these reports coming back to me daily.”

He highlighted murder, robbery, and gun violence cases where cannabis use was common among the offenders — a pattern backed by almost every pre-sentencing report reaching his desk.

This isn’t just a justice issue — it’s a public health and workplace safety crisis in the making. Workers impaired on the job, youth exposed to normalized use, and communities grappling with crime — all point to an industry racing ahead of its moral and legal compass.

________________________________________

⚠️ What Must Happen Next — Before It’s Too Late

If Barbados is serious about cultivating a medicinal cannabis industry that serves people — not just profits — it must:

• Establish robust, enforced safety and health oversight

• Require mandatory worker protections under SHaWA and Cannabis Regulations

• Monitor community impact in areas near cultivation sites

• Launch mental health and addiction education targeting youth and vulnerable workers

• Empower the Labour Department and Environmental Health Unit to inspect and enforce compliance

________________________________________

📣 Final Thoughts: A Crossroads of Profit and Protection

Barbados stands at a pivotal point: pursue economic opportunity at full speed — or take a more responsible path, balancing business growth with public and worker protection.

As DPP Seale’s warnings echo, and residents complain of sleepless nights, the question becomes clear:

Is this a dream industry — or a waking nightmare waiting to unfold?

Let’s make sure the future of cannabis in Barbados is guided not just by ambition, but by accountability.

Because when it comes to workplace safety, community wellbeing, and national security — we can’t afford to be high and blind.