by Linda Straker
- New 6-member committee appointed to examine issues surrounding cannabis industry
- Members are Tonja Alexander, Dr Shawn Charles, Josh Hector, Anselm Clouden, and ACP Vannie Curwen
- Committee’s work to be completed within 6 months as established by Cabinet
Agriculture Minister Lennox Andrews has announced that Cabinet has appointed a new 6-member committee to examine the issues surrounding the cannabis or marijuana industry in Grenada.
“The committee has been given that mandate to work with. We will expect that committee to fulfil its mandate so that by September of this year the government will be provided with an objective final report with recommendations on the way forward for our cannabis industry,” Andrews said in a post-Cabinet interview with the Government Information Service (GIS) on Monday, 8 April 2024.
The members of the Committee are Tonja Alexander, Cannabis Expert; Dr Shawn Charles, Ministry of Health; Josh Hector, Director of Mental Health & Substance Use, Ministry of Health; Anselm Clouden, Attorney-at-law and ACP Vannie Curwen, Officer in Charge of Crimes, Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).
Minister Andrews did not provide details about the terms of reference or the mandate of the committee but assured that its work will be completed within 6 months as established by Cabinet.
In November 2021, then New National Party (NNP) administration laid in the Lower House of Representatives legislation to amend the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act as part of its plans to decriminalise cannabis used for religious and personal use. The main objectives of the 2021 amendments were to allow anyone over the age of18 to be in possession of 28 grams or 0.987671 ounces of marijuana and to allow each homeowner over the age of 18 to grow no more than 5 trees. Rastafarians would be able to use the herb solely for religious purposes as a sacrament in adherence to the Rastafarian faith, and at a place of worship.
During the June 2022 General Elections, the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration campaigned on a promise to legalise cannabis, and in September 2022, in keeping with that promise, established a Commission on Cannabis Legalisation and Regulation, with former Senator Rolanda McQueen as chairman.
In September 2022, a GIS news release noted that among other things, commission members were expected to hold broad-based consultations and engage in public awareness on legalising cannabis and to prepare a final report with advice on the design of a new legislative and regulatory framework to legalise cannabis for its production and sale.
I applaud this move because public opinion and some political views have been shifting on this plant, and use it recreationally, medically and religiously. No one has been harder on cannabis than the united states and now benefiting millions in taxes to rebuild the black communities that have been criminalized more than any other and communities and are beneficial to the nation as a whole. The government is saving instead of what it cost to keep them locked up
Additionally, liquor was once criminalized and today almost everyone and countries have bottles in their cabinets,bars, restaurants , hotels, on airplanes for recreational, entertainment and a thriving industry making billions.
I believe the same concerns shown for alcohol then, are shown for cannabis now, and despite the many unfortunate deaths occur due to drunk driving, the industry is still thriving and is not going anywhere.
I believe the Caribbean should follow the US model of adjusting their stance on cannabis which have created many jobs and opportunities to improve the living standards of many and put the business skills of all who sold it illegally to do so legally therefore contributing to society in a positive way and save governments a lot of money.
Hey prime minister of Grenada you can make money out of this and put it in your back pocket