Cannabis Commission’s report to be presented to Cabinet on Monday

Commerce Minister Bradley Felix has announced that he is scheduled to make a presentation of the Cannabis Commission’s report to the cabinet of ministers on June 1. The commission was established in August 2019 and was mandated to: “Consult and provide advice on the design of a legislative and regulatory framework for cannabis.”

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament building on Tuesday, Felix said that the presentation has been prepared. “It should of been presented to cabinet yesterday,” the minister indicated. “Unfortunately, there were a number of other pressing matters, and we never got the time. We will have a presentation to cabinet on Monday coming.”

Although steps are being taken towards a possible regulatory framework, Felix, the government’s point man on cannabis, cautioned members of the public against breaking the law. “It’s still an illegal substance and people cannot feel that they could travel with pounds and pounds of marijuana, we have to bear that in mind. So while there is work in progress and hopefully we will soon have a result, we need to mindful that it is still illegal,” he said.

At a House of Assembly sitting on April 29, the minister spoke briefly on the report. He disclosed that some of the commission’s economic findings were that the criminalization of cannabis— which costs $3.6 million— has been ineffective in reducing related use. He noted that the main findings in the report indicated that the framework would include age limits, public health education programs, restrictions on public smoking and restriction on advertising.

Said Felix: “The economic benefits: create employment, reduce unemployment to 18.2 %, increase government revenue, expand export portfolio, reduce trade deficit to 17%, possible contribution of $83 million to the local economy and possible increase size of the economy by 9.8%.”