On Tuesday St. Kitts and Nevis came one step closer to joining fellow CARICOM members Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and St. Vincent aboard the cannabis train. In keeping with its plan to regulate and control the use of cannabis for medicinal, religious and recreational purposes, the government introduced, at the National Assembly, the Drugs (Prevention and Abatement of the Misuse and Abuse of Drugs) (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The move follows the establishment in 2017 of a National Marijuana Commission.
In its 2019 report the Commission recommended the amendments and called for the use of cannabis for medicinal and scientific, religious and recreational purposes. The amendments seek to address such areas as designated areas for smoking, fines, and a lower age limit of 18 years. Prime Minister Timothy Harris promised this was only the beginning, and legislation will also be introduced to expunge the records of persons who have been criminalized for their use of marijuana.
Meanwhile, reporters in Saint Lucia on Tuesday gathered at the office of Minister of Commerce Mr. Bradley Felix, where he announced the government’s plan to establish a Marijuana Commission. Felix said Cabinet had accepted his memo. Members of the Commission will include: the Attorney General or a designate, and a representative from the ministries of Commerce, Agriculture, Health, Home Affairs, and Equity, Invest Saint Lucia, the Christian Council, the Cannabis Movement, the National Youth Council, and a nominee from the House Opposition Leader.
The Commission’s mandate: “To consult and provide advice on the design of a legislative and regulatory framework for cannabis.” Felix announced that $100,000 has been budgeted for the initiative and this will cover the hosting of at least thirty-six town hall meetings, and educational forums on television, print and radio. “The consultation will be very intense,” said the minister. “In fact, based on conversations I’ve been having, we’re wondering whether the budgeted amount is sufficient. But we’re taking it one step at a time.”
Asked why establishing another Commission was the answer, Felix responded with his own questions: “Have we had public consultation? Have we had that? We hear every day people are crying that things are just happening without public consultation. There are lots of people who have their own views to share.”
He added: “We want to ensure we bring people up to date as to where the cannabis industry is, and to enlighten them.” The next step, Felix said, is for the Cabinet decision to be ratified next week. Letters will then be sent out to the respective organisations so that representatives can be chosen. The Commission will be given three months to carry out its mandate and then report back to Cabinet.
Chairman of the Cannabis Movement Mr. Andre De Caires is far from satisfied. In an interview with the STAR, he fumed: “What exactly is this Commission for? CARICOM had a Commission; this government paid PEMANDU $13 million dollars and PEMANDU gave them a report on the legalization of ganja. We gave them a white paper. The first Commission gave recommendations. They received recommendations from four different bodies and now they’re saying they want another Commission. It’s a waste of time and money. We already know what to do. We have a detailed pathway to legalization. We have been advocating way longer than any of those islands.”
