HEALING HERB

IF PRIME Minister Dr Rowley has his way, the decriminalisation of marijuana for medicinal purposes will be in effect come the middle of next year.

In fact, Rowley yesterday publicly stated his “commitment” to seeing the laws changed to allow for the use of marijuana on medical grounds to provide another avenue for people suffering with a host of ailments for which conventional medicine seems to have no effect.

The PM’s view comes months of conversations, petitions and rallies by those in civil society who are pushing for the decriminalisation of marijuana.

Speaking to reporters following the formal opening of a bridge in Carenage yesterday, Rowley said that early in 2019 the process will begin to decriminalize marijuana.

Rowley said, “We are expecting to have public consultations very early in the new year. I think we have done the legislative review already. The AG’s (Attorney General) Office has made the necessary consultative contacts with the Ministry of Health, the Law Association and so on. “We are going public with the consultations and then we expect to be in Parliament and get it completed before the middle of 2019. So it is well underway. We expect that by May to June, the decriminalization would have been effective,” Rowley said.

He reminded however, that people be clear that there is big difference between decriminalization and legalisation of marijuana.

“I want you to understand that there is a big difference between decriminalization and legalisation. I don’t want (any confusion), we have to be clear on what we are doing. We have committed to the decriminalization. What we are working on now is the method by which that represents in terms of the use.

“For example, I saw Mr (Basdeo) Panday say that if you are going to decriminalize and people are therefore not going to be prosecuted for using it. What does that mean in terms of allowing a person to grow one plant? Great question, but we have not gotten the answers just yet.”

Earlier this year, MP for Barataria Dr Fuad Khan said TT needs to begin the process of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. In October, hundreds attended a National Cannabis Rally held by the All Mansions of Rastafari at Woodford Square in Port of Spain.

At the rally, chairman of the All Mansions of Rastafari Clyde Noel made the call for Government to legalize marijuana, saying people should be allowed to use marijuana to medicate themselves.

The call to legalize the herb did not end there as the Caribbean Collective for Justice group got over 10,000 signatures on a petition which was sent to Government.

In July, the Government as a result of that petition, decided to have discussions with community groups to review marijuana decriminalisation.

A number of countries in the world, including several in the Caribbean, have decriminalized marijuana for medical purposes and some have allowed the use of it in small amounts. Jamaica and Cayman Islands have passed laws to allow people to use it for medical purposes and countries such as Antigua and Barbuda and Belize small amounts are permitted.

Canada has also legalised the use of marijuana as well as several states in America.