GO SLOW, GET HIGH? Caye Caulker Votes on Cannabis

Residents of Caye Caulker will vote on October 8 to decide whether Belize should establish a regulated, taxable cannabis industry on the island; however, the referendum revives a divisive issue long opposed by religious conservative groups.

Governor-General Dame Froyla Tzalam issued the writ on August 28, following confirmation from the Chief Elections Officer that more than 25 percent of registered voters in the village signed a petition calling for the referendum. The petitioners asked that a portion of revenues from the industry be earmarked for the direct benefit of Caye Caulker residents.

The October 8 vote will mark the first referendum held under section 2(1)(b) of the Referendum Act, which allows residents of a specific district or area to trigger a poll once the statutory threshold of signatures is reached. Ballots must be counted and results certified by October 9.

The referendum’s subject matter echoes earlier national debates surrounding the Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill, introduced in 2022. While government sought to advance legislation at the time, opposition from religious organizations, including the National Evangelical Association of Belize, delayed progress. Leaders within these groups argued that Cabinet could not block a referendum once sufficient signatures were verified, framing the matter as one of public rather than political decision.

In 2022, Prime Minister John Briceño announced efforts to postpone the cannabis referendum amid banking sector concerns about correspondent relationships and the projected $5 million cost of the exercise. Despite these objections, the law provided no mechanism for Cabinet to halt or delay the process once voter signatures met the legal threshold.

The upcoming Caye Caulker referendum now places the contentious issue squarely before voters at the village level. While advocates argue the industry could generate new revenue streams for the community, history has shown that the conservative religious groups are to mobilize against the proposal. Traditionally, the church has framed the matter as socially harmful regardless of regulatory measures.

The outcome of the October 8 vote will determine whether the matter advances, marking a critical test of direct democracy on one of Belize’s most debated policy issues.