Government’s stance on cannabis an ‘insult’

The decision by Government to decriminalise small amounts of cannabis is nothing but an “insult”, says head of the Afrikan Heritage Foundation (AHF) Paul Simba Rock.

Dame Sandra Mason disclosed on Tuesday that Government would amend laws to allow for persons caught with 14 grams of cannabis or less, not to be arrested and hauled before the law courts.

Instead, she said, they would be issued with a $200 fine, which they would have to pay within 30 days.

However, in response to the news, Rock said what has been presented “leaves much to be desired”, and he called on Barbadians to “speak up” against the proposed fine.

Rock, who also heads the newly formed advocacy group Cannabis Barbados, said his impression from residents was that they were confused.

“Cannabis Barbados while not being confused or even surprised by the absurdity of the Governments intended plan to decriminalize small amounts of cannabis, finds it offensive and insulting. The justification for these intended actions only adds insult to injury,” he said, in one of his daily updates.

In her speech, Dame Sandra said the move was part of efforts to free up police officers to deal with more serious matters as well as the Magistrates’ courts, suggesting that the majority of the cases required “the deployment of significant police resources”.

However, Rock said this justification was not acceptable.

“Thus in a shrewd economic adjustment program, almost 90 per cent of the cost of a cannabis offence is now paid by the offender. Now, for the cost of a ticket, the Government can make $200 from small quantities of cannabis that can cost from $2.50 to $600. Added to this, for the cost of $200 you will not have a conviction against your name, which in many ways can hinder development and empowerment for the convicted (the one silver lining in this dark cloud of cannabis confusion),” wrote Rock.

At the same time, he pointed out that “no mention was made of any intention to expunge criminal records held by persons previously convicted of a soon to be ticket-able offence”.

He argued that despite numerous researches showing that cannabis was not a dangerous drug, it was sad that Barbadians would still be “penalized” for it.

“How is it that 100 per cent of dangerous drug research has located alcohol as a more dangerous substance than cannabis, yet it is socially accepted and carries no legal penalties for adult use, but you want to give us a fine?” he questioned.

“Cannabis Barbados encourages Barbadians to speak up on the issue and let the Government know, we will not be paying any $200 for 14 grams or

less. The offices of the Prime Minister and Attorney General should be flooded with letters of total dissatisfaction, and disgust over the framework of the intended move to ‘decriminalize’ cannabis. Likewise media houses should also be sent copies of the letters directed to the aforementioned parties,” he said.

Rock said Cannabis Barbados will consider the formulation of a petition, that when complete, will be delivered to the Government demanding that they rethink its structure of cannabis “decriminalization”.

“All protest action against this unconscionable suggestion for cannabis decriminalization legislation by the Prime Minister, who wrote the Throne Speech that was read by the Governor General, should be met with a blatant refusal to pay the $200 ticket by all Barbadians found guilty of the related offence. If the Government will not listen to the people, then the people must act in collective resistance against its continued cannabis tyranny,” he added.

He said: “It will be interesting to see if decriminalization for cultivation of small amounts of cannabis will be included in the supporting legislation for this nonsense. If it does contain such a clause, unlike possession and use, it may not carry a $200 fine and a ticket”.

He said should the Government fail to address that concern regarding cultivation as it crafts legislation for the decimalization, “it will empower the illegal cannabis trade and those who control it”.

“The question then is, if I am allowed/ not allowed 14 grams of cannabis, where do I get it from? BLP – Building Ludicrous Policies – Creating Confusion!” he said.

“Another question this ‘cannabis decriminalization’ plan presents is whether or not a police officer is qualified to determine if someone has a cannabis addiction problem . . . Wait! Will police officers now be armed with a scale to weigh small amounts of cannabis, to certify it is under 14 grams before issuing the ticket?”

He said the biggest mistake the Government was making was to promise a referendum “on an issue that should have been decided on by the facts and merits of the matter at hand”.

He suggested that Prime Minister Mia Mottley “tell the people of Barbados that she made a boo boo when she promised to hold a referendum on the legalization of cannabis for recreational or rather adult use”.

“It sounded good on a campaign trail, where promises and assurances rang out like bullets in a wild wild west shootout, directed to a Bajan public that was, and is for the most part, still cannabis ignorant. However what is right, and what is just, needs application, not a vote,” he said.

Paul, through his organization, has filed a lawsuit against Government, demanding that sections of the Sacrament Cannabis Act law be changed to acknowledge homes of Rastafarian community as their place of worship.

That case is set for November 5, 2020.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb