Caricom discusses universal weed bill

CARICOM members yesterday discussed the possibility of a unified legislation when it concerns the legality of the use of marijuana, and agreed that it would be sensible to have a universal framework for legislation on the illicit plant.

The agreement was made yesterday at the Trinidad Hilton, during the 19 th Conference of Heads of State and Governments of the Caribbean Community on Security.

Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley said while some Caricom members like Jamaica and St Vincent and the Grenadines have taken their own action to decriminalise marijuana, it would be prudent and sensible to have a unified legislation among Caricom members.

“Each of us would have our own individual approach but what we agreed to is that collectively we need to have a conversation,” Mottley said.

Mottley pointed out that while marijuana has religious, recreational and medicinal uses, there were serious health implications that impact users of the plant particularly among young people who use it before their bodies develop fully.

“Conversations have to take place but we believe that Caricom can produce a model bill for those countries that want to take action. We are in a position to work in a synchronised way.”

Prime Minister Keith Rowley said TT was close to completing its own consultation on the matter but joined Caricom in feeling that instead of having separate laws with regard to marijuana a harmonisation of legislation on the drug would be useful.

St Kitts and Nevis will also be bringing forward legislation concerning marijuana to parliament by the end of May according to St Kitts Prime Minister Timothy Harris.

“We are going to draw upon those legislative frameworks (on marijuana) that have come before us in addressing our own domestic situation.” Harris said.