Caribbean leaders have agreed to draft a framework which could lead to the eventual legalization of recreational marijuana.
This was revealed by Attorney General Dale Marshall, who
said that while the recent move does not “bind” any particular state to
such a move, it is a clear indication that the region intends to move in
that direction.
The lawmaker, however, noted that Barbados still remained
commited to taking the final cue from Barbadians through a referendum to
ultimately decide if recreational marijuana use will be legalized here.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the
143rd Passing Out Parade and Graduation Ceremony at the Regional Police
Training Centre, Marshall said Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean
could no longer bury their head in the sand.
“I can say to you that CARICOM, at our recent security
heads meeting, took a decision that CARICOM would develop a model law
for recreational use of marijuana. Now that’s not binding on any
individual state, but the fact is that as a region I think it is fair to
say that the heads recognize that there is perhaps an inexorable move
towards allowing people to have the ability to keep small quantities of
marijuana for recreational use,” the Attorney General told Barbados TODAY.
“Jamaica has gone that way, Antigua has already gone that
way and I don’t need to tell anybody that Canada has legalized
recreational marijuana and many other states in the US. We can’t bury
our heads in the sand. There is a reality that we recognize and also
there are social issues.”
Marshall said while Barbados had already agreed to
legalize medical cannabis, Government intended to allow the public to
determine whether or not they wanted to go the recreational marijuana
route.
“First of all let me say that the Government of Barbados
has taken the firm position that we are going to legitimize medical
cannabis. So that’s a yes,” Marshall maintained.
“In relation to where we go in terms of recreational use
of marijuana we have committed to going to the people by way of a
referendum to get the views of the public to inform and direct the
decision that we might make.”
Respected attorney-at-law Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim told Barbados TODAY
the time had come to put an end to persons being hauled before the law
courts for being in possession of small quantities of marijuana.
He contended that it simply made no sense.
“It’s upsetting to me how we continue to pretend that
dealing with small quantities of marijuana or any marijuana is a big
priority for the Royal Barbados Police Force. It seems like everywhere
else in the world now it is accepted that people can have small
quantities for personal use and in the countries that we pretend to
emulate – the first world countries – have all moved in that direction
and our Caribbean colleagues have moved in that direction,” Pilgrim
said.
“Why do we have to be last? Criminalizing little boys
driving round in a car with a handful of marijuana going up to prison
for two weeks, it’s such a disgrace. We have to come into the first
world and the 21st century.”
The attorney said it made more sense to educate persons
about the use of drugs so that people could make proper, educated
choices about what substances they want to put into their bodies.
However, in response, the Attorney General said for that to occur there would have to be legislative changes.
“For as long as we have possession of marijuana as a
criminal offence a person who has even the smallest quantity of
marijuana will run the risk of being criminalized.
“It is alright for Mr Pilgrim to say that police should
not charge, but I don’t want it at the whim and fancy of any police
officer. A police officer who sees somebody committing an offence and
turns a blind eye to it could well be committing a criminal offence
himself,” Marshall explained.
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