(a) The Commissioner shall register an applicant to manufacture controlled substances in schedule I or II if he determines that such registration is consistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) maintenance of effective controls against diversion of particular controlled substances and any controlled substance in schedule I or II compounded therefrom into other than legitimate medical, scientific, research, or industrial channels, by limiting the importation and bulk manufacture of such controlled substances to a number of establishments which can produce an adequate and uninterrupted supply of these substances under adequately competitive conditions for legitimate medical, scientific, research and industrial purposes;
(2) compliance with applicable law of the Virgin Islands;
(3) promotion of technical advances in the art of manufacturing these substances and the development of new substances;
(4) prior conviction record of applicant under Virgin Islands, Federal and State laws relating to the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of such substances;
(5) past experience in the manufacture of controlled substances, and the existence in the establishment of effective control against diversion; and
(6) such other factors as may be relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety.
(b) The Commissioner shall register an applicant to distribute a controlled substance in schedule I or II unless he determines that the issuance of such registration is inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) maintenance of effective control against diversion of particular controlled substances into other than legitimate medical, scientific, and industrial channels;
(2) compliance with applicable laws of the Virgin Islands;
(3) prior conviction record of applicant under Virgin Islands, Federal or State laws relating to the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of such substances;
(4) past experience in the distribution of controlled substances; and
(5) such other factors as may be relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety.
(c) Registration granted under subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not entitle a registrant to manufacture or distribute controlled substances in schedule I or II other than those specified in the registration.
(d) The Commissioner shall register an applicant to manufacture controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V, unless he determines that the issuance of such registration is inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) maintenance of effective controls against diversion of particular controlled substances and any controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V compounded therefrom into other than legitimate medical, scientific, or industrial channels;
(2) compliance with applicable laws of the Virgin Islands;
(3) promotion of technical advances in the art of manufacturing these substances and the development of new substances;
(4) prior conviction record of applicant under Virgin Islands, Federal or State laws relating to the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of such substances;
(5) past experience in the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of controlled substances, and the existence in the establishment of effective controls against diversion; and
(6) such other factors as may be relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety.
(e) The Commissioner shall register an applicant to distribute controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V, unless he determines that the issuance of such registration is inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) maintenance of effective controls against diversion of particular controlled substances into other than legitimate medical, scientific, and industrial channels;
(2) compliance with applicable laws of the Virgin Islands;
(3) prior conviction record of applicant under Virgin Islands, Federal or State laws relating to the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of such substances;
(4) past experience in the distribution of controlled substances; and
(5) such other factors as may be relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety.
(f) Practitioners shall be registered to dispense or conduct research with controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V if they are authorized to dispense or conduct research under the laws of the state in which they practice. Separate registration under this chapter for practitioners engaging in research with nonnarcotic controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V, who are already registered under this chapter in another capacity, shall not be required. Pharmacies (as distinguished from pharmacists) when engaged in commercial activities, shall be registered to dispense controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V if they are authorized to dispense under the law of the Virgin Islands in which they regularly conduct business. Registration applications by practitioners wishing to conduct research with controlled substances in schedule I shall be reviewed by the Commissioner to determine qualifications and competency of each practitioner requesting registration, as well as the merits of the research protocol. The Commissioner, in determining the merits of each research protocol, shall prescribe effective procedures to adequately safeguard against diversion of such controlled substances from legitimate medical or scientific use.