Cannabis in Trinidad and Tobago

The manufacture, possession, and consumption of cannabis is decriminalized in Trinidad and Tobago. In December 2019, the government passed a bill in Parliament to decriminalize the cultivation and possession of small quantities of cannabis. The bill was proclaimed as law on 23 December 2019.

History

In 1915 Trinidad created the Ganja Ordinance, by which all cannabis sold on the island was gathered into bonded warehouses and distributed only to sellers who paid a license fee, similar to the system found in Bengal.[1] Cannabis was banned in the islands in 1925.[2]

Decriminalization

In 2018, the head of the Caribbean Collective for Justice has called for the nation to decriminalize cannabis.[3] In December 2018, Prime Minister Keith Rowley stated that cannabis would become decriminalized some time in June 2019.[4]

In November 2019, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi laid two bills in Parliament which decriminalize possession of less than 30 grams (1.1 oz) of marijuana, implement tiered penalties for possession of 30–60 grams (1.1–2.1 oz), and allow cultivation of up to four plants per adult.[5][6]. The decriminalization bill was passed by both houses of Parliament and will be proclaimed into law on 23 December 2019, while the Cannabis Control Authority Bill was sent to a joint select committee. [7]

References
  1. James H. Mills (11 September 2003). Cannabis Britannica: Empire, Trade, and Prohibition 1800-1928. OUP Oxford. pp. 139–. ISBN 978-0-19-155465-0.
  2. Axel Klein; Marcus Day; Anthony Harriott (13 November 2004). Caribbean Drugs: From Criminalization to Harm Reduction. Zed Books. pp. 58–. ISBN 978-1-84277-499-1.
  3. http://www.looptt.com/content/tt-petition-decriminalisation-marijuana-gathers-momentum
  4. Hughes, Calvin (19 January 2019). "Two Groups of Caribbean Islands Just Changed Their Marijuana Laws". civilized.life. Civilized. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  5. Alexander, Gail (23 November 2019). "License to burn". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  6. "Four female plants to be allowed under Cannabis Control Bill". www.looptt.com. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/merry-christmas-weed-decriminalisation-law-to-be-proclaimed-december/article_3188b0a6-22a9-11ea-85e9-f71de3bf932a.html
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