PHILIPSBURG--Students from a major school in South Reward are reportedly using containers near their schools to hide and smoke during breaks, while some students as young as 14 are arriving at school already high, Education Minister Melissa Gumbs told Parliament on Wednesday as she painted a picture of the impact of cannabis on youth in the country.
Gumbs made the statements during the second round of answers in the 2026 budget debate, while responding to questions from MP Raeyhon Peterson about proposed cannabis legislation, its status and its possible impact on young people.
“Almost every other week, I receive messages from teachers at MPC [Milton Peters College], complaining about how students are using the container in front the school and the containers down the road to hide and smoke during breaks,” Gumbs said.
She added that she regularly hears from the St Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS) about students, some as young as 14, arriving at school at 7:30 am already high. She stressed that the substance involved is not always marijuana.
Gumbs said the cannabis legislation initiative began under the former administration. After becoming minister, she said she discussed the issue with the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications (TEATT) and asked for ECYS to be added to the workgroup dealing with the legislation. That was done, she said, with the Ministry ensuring that the concerns of educators were included.
Gumbs said she understands some of the concerns surrounding cannabis legislation but argued that the country cannot continue avoiding difficult issues simply because they are controversial.
She said cannabis and the issues associated with it are already present in society, comparing the situation to other industries and activities that exist despite not being fully regulated.
The minister also raised concerns about the resources available for programmes supporting young people. She said that when she looks at what is available to allocate to programmes for young people at Turning Point, “we are sweeping at cobwebs.”
Gumbs connected the funding issue to the country's broader economic situation, questioning where the money will come from for the social programs that are needed.
She said the ECYS position in discussions on cannabis is that industries should contribute toward addressing the risks and damage they can create. She made a similar point about gambling, saying that while the industry has existed for decades, there has been no contribution toward fighting gambling addiction or preventing people from spending their salaries on gambling.
According to information shared with the Council of Ministers, Gumbs said the proposed cannabis package currently includes the establishment of a US $750,000-per-year fund, totalling US $7.5 million over 10 years. She said the majority of the funds are intended to go toward youth programs focused on educating young people about cannabis use and abuse.
Gumbs also addressed concerns about whether local farmers were being excluded from the discussions. She said local farmers have participated in meetings, expressed concerns and provided suggestions through the workgroup.
She said the workgroup also has a phased community outreach plan involving families, religious organizations, educational institutions, private businesses and ECYS divisions, including the Student Support Services Division (SSSD).
Gumbs said the country has spent decades dealing with unregulated industries and social issues and argued that it is time to address them rather than continue avoiding difficult conversations.
She also said social programmes such as Turning Point and UJIMA have been seeking additional funding for decades to continue and expand their work supporting people dealing with various addictive behaviours.
