The Bahamas government has announced a legislative package that will legalize cannabis for medical, religious and research purposes. Personal possession of small amounts of cannabis will also be decriminalized and previous convictions for simple possession will be expunged.
The bills package would establish a local framework for cannabis production and, according to the government, “ensure a well-regulated, safe and controlled cannabis industry”.
Attorney General Ryan Pinder and Minister of Health and Welfare Michael Darville announced the proposed reforms at the weekly Prime Minister’s Office press conference last Thursday.
Mr Pinder said he wanted the bills to be presented to Parliament by October.
“The goal would be to discuss it by the end of the calendar year, because there is a lot of work to be done to put the authority in place,” he said. “There is the training, the certifications, the digital platform for tracing and prescriptions, and all of that has to be done before the licenses are issued. »
🔍 **Detailed Information:** Head to https://t.co/F5vLbSdg1d to explore the full compendium of legislation, presentation slides, final reports, and more.
— Office of The Prime Minister The Bahamas (@opmthebahamas) August 24, 2023
If adopted, doctors in the Bahamas will be able to recommend cannabis for specific conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
“Many Bahamians suffer from disabling illnesses such as terminal cancers, various forms of depression that do not respond to clinical therapy, and post-traumatic stress,” Darville said.
The changes would also allow religious use of cannabis by Rastafarians, who would need to obtain special licenses.
While these reforms do not legalize cannabis generally, possession of 30 grams of cannabis would be decriminalized, subject to a $250 fine in lieu of a criminal record. Previous convictions for simple possession would also be expunged.
On the production side, future licensees must be Bahamian and at least 21 years old. Owner groups will also need to include a certain percentage of Bahamians, depending on the type of license. Cultivators, for example, will have to be 100% Bahamian-owned. Analysis, manufacturing and research licenses are expected to be 30% owned by Bahamians.
“We have a number of licenses that will be put in place and opportunities for Bahamians to participate, and we look forward to their participation,” Mr. Pinder said. “We believe this will have a positive economic impact.
The system would be overseen by a new government cannabis authority, made up of nine members representing “a faith-based organization, civil society, and one person from banking, law, agriculture, scientific research, pharmacy and medicine.
A government website devoted to the proposals states that the “overall framework is not arbitrary; it is grounded in the research and findings of the Caribbean Community Secretariat’s 2018 Cannabis Report.” Additionally, the authors of the bills have also studied cannabis regulation in Jamaica, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Canada.
“This ensures that our legislation is in line with international best practice and adapted to our unique cultural and legal context. »
In 2018, leaders from 19 Caribbean countries, including the Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti and Jamaica, agreed to “review the current status of cannabis with a view to reclassification”, citing “human rights” issues. human and religious rights” resulting from criminalization as well as “the economic benefits to be gained” from a regulated industry.
