by Linda Straker
- Over the years, use of marijuana and views of people have changed
- Government established a committee locally to review the Caricom Marijuana Commission report
- Consideration for laws banning smoking in public
Grenada is to develop its own model for cultivation, distribution, supply and use of marijuana as it moves forward to enforce aspects of the Caricom Marijuana Commission report, which will result in decriminalising and or legalising of the drug. Marijuana is presently illegal on the law books.
“Just like alcohol, like cigarettes, marijuana days for decriminalising, for legalising is coming too, that is a fact. The question is how it is done, what extent we go in dealing with the law as it relates to that drug use is something that will come forward,” Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said during a townhall meeting for residents in the constituency of St George’s South.
“Trinidad has done its share. It says you can use a certain level of marijuana at your home with a certain number of trees you can have at home. Barbados has done something different. Dominica has done something different,” he said, referring to the different approaches adopted by regional jurisdiction for the free use and trading of marijuana. “Grenada will be doing its own.” Dr Mitchell reminded the audience that over the years the whole question about the use of marijuana and views of people have changed.
Dr Mitchell who is also the Minister for National Security told the meeting which was broadcast live on television and various social media platforms, that Government established a committee locally to review the Caricom Marijuana Commission report that will guide the country to set the framework for moving forward with the recommendations.
“Right now, a bill is being prepared to look at our interpretation of how we go forward with the whole question of marijuana, what level of decriminalisation that should take place within Grenada, how it is done and what we allow and what we will recommend,” he said. He did not provide a time frame for the legislative change.
“The fact is marijuana is known as a drug; we have to accept that. Cigarette is also known as a drug. Alcohol is also a drug. We don’t have laws against the use of alcohol, we don’t have laws against the use of cigarette but we have laws historical against marijuana,” he said.
Giving the assurance that the public will get the information as decisions are made pertaining to marijuana, he said, “We are moving to decriminalise some aspect about the use of marijuana.”
He indicated that even though the law will change for marijuana use, consideration will be given to protect persons who should not be exposed to second-hand smoke with laws for banning smoking in public.
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Long over due. The fact both alcohol and cigarettes were under pressure and were made legal for use so should be marijuana. Alcohol and cigarettes are bringing Revenue for the Government so should be marijuana. If sold in shops it will cutoff the big guys who have made millions over the years. The same laws governing alcohol and cigarettes should apply or should be even stronger to protect the younger ones.
This is clearly a step in the right direction, why have a large amount of people locked up for smoking a joint or having a pound of marijuana in their possession? This is a win win situation for the citizens of our country.
Ganja is a good medicine I say, most beneficial. Make it legal but on other hnrd things like cocaine and meth should be dealt with harshly in the courts. That white powder is death, no doubt there so lock up those who sell that demon.
SMH!!! What’s next Grenada. PROSTITUTION IS LEGAL IN SOME COUNTRIES WE’LL HAVEONE OF THAT. THERE ARE EDUCATED WELL SPOKEN YOUTHS IN OTHER COUNTRIES WE’LLHAVE ONE OF THAT. ILLITERACY IS IN SOME COUNTRIES WE’LL HAVE ONE OF THAT. MURDEE RATE IS HIGH IN SOME COUNTRIES WE’LL HAVE ONE OF THAT. ANYONE CARE TO ADD SOME MORE OF THAT??
To me reading your remarks on Cannabis only shows that you need to educate yourself on what is Cannabis an what is the currently effects it has on the Grenadian Tax payers. It’s more beneficial to legalize Cannabis than lock up people for it. All the things you have mention in your comments Cannabis can complement these accept. Please do yourself an favor an do some research on Cannabis before you downgrade it’s potential.
Finally the blind government has wake up to see the benefits of the weed, marijuana, hemp. It is very beneficial and people can become very rich off of it. Let’s start a cannabis industry for use of tea medicine and much more. It is time that we start decriminalizing the weed and start to make it legal. As you can see it is very legal in the united states of america and canada. It’s time that police stop shooting up people for a spliff.
I wonder what is the constructive value of legalizing weed? Indigenous Grenadians are hurting for jobs, proper health care, decent education, reliable transportation and ways to constructively advance themselves and all this so called government is offering is weed legalization.
I don’t care whether the US/Canada or where-ever else legalize weed, they have enough constructive things going on to offset the ill-effects of weed legalization.
Wake up Indigenous Grenadians! Don’t fall for this trick!
Cmon Jonny. You have been dumb from the start. Cant you not see that it is legal in other Caribbean islands such as st.vincent and the grenadines, st.kitts and in other islands. You are talking about people needing better jobs and health care. That is where weed comes into play. Weed has medical purposes and benefits and you can even smoke medical marijuana. When people start growing weed for these things people are to become rich so idk what dumb u are talking about. Yea werd does have some bad effects but look on the positive side. It is very beneficial. Looks all the chaos when police go and shoot up a man for smoking a spliff. What nonsense is that. You should be speaking against those things and not the weed itself.
Legalization is good for all. The people receive medicine and government receive tax money. New businesses created to distribute, new jobs for growers. I see this as progress as many countries have done the same to great success.
Who’s the committee made up of and how do you get in contact with them?