While CLIWG and Native Nations SXM work collaboratively, their roles are distinct.

CLIWG supports the inter-ministerial government process, including:

• Policy research and development
• Coordination between relevant ministries
• Stakeholder consultation
• Public education and engagement
• Review of public-health, legal, economic, agricultural and social considerations
• Development and refinement of recommendations for a potential regulatory framework

Native Nations SXM, as a strategic and technical partner, helps CLIWG in all areas listed above as well as contributes areas of expertise in:

• Policy research and development
• Cannabis industry and regulatory experience
• Cultivation and production knowledge
• Agricultural-development planning
• Technical research and recommendations
• Farmer and industry engagement
• Economic and operational considerations
• Support for public education and stakeholder outreach

Native Nations SXM does not replace the role of Government, CLIWG or Parliament.

The development of policy remains a government process, and final decisions regarding cannabis legislation and regulation rest with the Government and Parliament of Sint Maarten.

This distinction is important when reviewing the media archive below.

Some articles focus directly on CLIWG or government policy. Others focus on Native Nations SXM’s activities because those activities including farmer engagement, parliamentary presentations, public education and participation in the National Cannabis Regulation Symposium have occurred as part of, or in support of, the wider regulatory-development and public-engagement process.

Together, these reports help document how Sint Maarten’s national cannabis discussion has developed over time.