Loop News
There are growing calls for the government of Grenada to take steps to decriminalise marijuana for medicinal purposes as well as for personal and religious purposes.
The political party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), held a media conference today where it stated that the time has come to accept the health benefits of marijuana as well as the opportunity to save many young people from being convicted for small amounts of the drug.
NDC political leader Franka Bernardine said after much consideration, analytical review and discussion with many in society, Grenada should move to adopt the relevant recommendations of the CARICOM Regional Commission report on marijuana as outlined in the 2018 document.
Bernardine said with respect to the issue of medicinal marijuana many are aware that people in Grenada as well as throughout the world use marijuana for a number of medicinal reasons.
She noted marijuana roots are used for children and adults in the treatment of asthma, the juice of the plant is used with Vaseline for skin issues and there is marijuana drops for glaucoma.
“People who are ill and with disabilities must be able to access these products. We cannot have pharmaceutical products and big industries come in and market our products and we are still behind.
There are tremendous economic implications in this for us. We should not allow fear, conservative attitudes and uncertainty to hold back innovative initiatives that could help people,” said the NDC political leader.
Bernardine said with respect to recreational use for small quantities, instead of prison sentences, tickets could be issued which if not paid in 30 days would result in a more severe penalty.
She said there is no need for conviction and incarceration.
“Apart from the cost to the nation there is a tremendous emotional cost to the people involved. Scores of young people being convicted that way as resulted in a number of social issues. Loss of their jobs, their reputation, opportunities to travel and subject to stigma over minuscule quantities of marijuana,” said Bernardine.
It is also a time-consuming matter for both the police and the court.
The political party is also of the view that young people who are left with the taint of drug charges should have these factors expunged from their records after a certain period of time.
The NDC is calling for a widening of the conversation on marijuana to include various stakeholders to shape the process.
It said if the current administration fails to act on the issue of decriminalising marijuana, the NDC commits to doing so as a priority on forming the government.
The NDC intends to hold a public forum soon to kick off dialogue with the nation’s young people where views can be presented on the topic.