Govt to consider CARICOM findings on medical marijuana

As of Friday, June 15, 2018

Dr Duane Sands, Minister of Health. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune staff

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Minnis administration will consider changes to policy on medicinal marijuana following the completion of a report from a CARICOM task force on the herbal drug, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands told Parliament yesterday.

This report, he said, is expected to be released next month.

Earlier this year, public discourse on the use of marijuana for medical purposes was again ignited after a CARICOM Regional Commission town hall meeting saw scores of Bahamians turn out to voice opinions about its legalisation.

At the time, Dr Marvin Smith, PHA deputy director and chief pharmacist at the Princess Margaret Hospital, urged government and local health officials to set the standard for medical marijuana research in the region.

"Against the backdrop of the recent legalisation of recreational marijuana use in Canada and the disconnect between the states and the federal government of the USA, there is tremendous discussion about the possible role of medical marijuana, the economic viability of marijuana farming and processing," Dr Sands said yesterday during his budget communication.

"Many are deeply passionate about this subject and have expressed a view that we have lagged behind the rest of the region and the world in modifying our approach and we hear those people.

"The World Health Organisation in November 2017 published a statement that CBD (Cannabidiol), one of the components different than THC, is neither harmful nor addictive."

He continued: "The Bahamas has agreed to be guided by the CARICOM task force . . .which is scheduled to give a report in July 2018.

"Subsequently, the Cabinet of The Bahamas will, as committed by the prime minister and member for Killarney, consider any implications for changes in national policy.

"But at this time, there are no adjustments to our laws or policy on marijuana and my ministry will have no recommendation until that time. Certainly, given our unique challenges with violence, careful sovereign consideration and public consideration of the matter is necessary because what works elsewhere may or may not work in The Bahamas."

PastorTroy 5 years, 11 months ago

Good news! however, let us stop fooling ourselves cannabis legalization will be a blessing to our Bahamaland if it's locally grown and harvested by reputable "mom and pop" family Island farmers on Islands like Acklins, Andros, Mayguana and properly administered and taxed by a transparent Government agency, All this 12% tax crap is evil and ungodly! Use some of the tax from cannabis sales to pay down our massive national debt, and use most of it to upgrade our Bahamas educationally, spiritually, economically, medically, mentally, but most importantly invest in the mind, body, and spirit of our people, because many are hurting in silence. Suicide in on the rise in our Bahamas and domestic violence is skyrocketing it will be fair to blame other legal vices in our nation. alcohol, gambling, pharmaceuticals etc, however, we also have to look at the "wall of silence" in so many homes incest, sexual assault and abuses, many are depressed. cannabis can heal the mind body and spirit, will there be those who abuse it? ABSOLUTELY! it's illegal and it's being abused now, however, we're all in this together; people abuse food, sex, religion should we make those illegal too? this is why we must use a portion of taxes from cannabis sales to take care of our people mind, body and spirit but most of all higher education (pun intended) University of The Bahamas should get a substantial portion of the tax dollars created from cannabis sales to encourage not only medical research IN THE BAHAMAS but to improve the lives of our citizens.

PastorTroy 5 years, 11 months ago

Bahamians wanting to improve themselves should be able to receive a subsidized education compliments of cannabis, stop sending our best and brightest away, because many will not come back. In 5 years we should be financially stable enough, providing that recreational cannabis is also legalized soon that the 7.5% tax can be repealed, however, I'm not holding my breath on the latter. A portion of taxes should also go towards our LEO's to give them the tools to fight REAL criminals groups operating locally and internationally within our border peddling death, hard drugs, and illegal guns. We know why cannabis became illegal, the truth is everywhere, criminalizing our passion for financial reasons and our Government knows the truth and not saving the lives of our brothers and sisters makes us complicit. We are Bahamians dam8! WHERE IS OUR PRIDE?? Are we our brothers/sisters keeper? Mr. D'Aguilar's defense for taxing the "Number Boys" a "lil" bit more because they have had a feast for a while, is the same argument I can propose to those who have shares/interest/stocks/kickbacks in Commonwealth brewery and the liquor and pharmaceutical industries, We are too small of a nation to be so predatory on our brothers and sisters when they know where your mama dem live. A rising tide lifts all boats, let us legalize cannabis, let a legal honest and vibrant cannabis industry be the tide that lifts us as a nation. Then that which our enemies had put before us and our children to destroy us, will make us rise!! They tried to bury we, but they forget we are seeds from tribes of our mothers & forefathers. I wish you, my brothers and sisters, love & PEACE.

DWW 5 years, 11 months ago

Stop locking up young persons and hosting them at Fox Hill on tax payer dollars for 3-20 years at a time. How much does this cost our country? Anyone have a figure? How much could it make in taxes? Simple math people.

sheeprunner12 5 years, 11 months ago

Medical marijuana should be legalized as with international protocols ............ and recreational use of marijuana should be decriminalized with specific parameters (like alcohol) placed on amount to tax, trade and possess.

Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 11 months ago

I would rather hear Duane Sands try explain how is it he personally awarded a $1.9 million hospital cleaning contract to Barbara Hanna's Magic Touch cleaning company less than 3 months after criminal charges were brought against Frank Smith, the disgraced former chairman of the Public Hospital Authority (PHA)??!!!!

The legal advisor and secretary to the current board of the PHA testified in open court that Sands personally approved the $1.9 million contract without any notification to or input whatsoever from the PHA board. In doing so, Sands failed to adhere to the well established written guidelines and rules for the review and approval of such a large contract. He completely bypassed both the PHA board and cabinet in personally approving the cleaning contract with a company whose owner he knew full well was alleging to have bribed Frank Smith to secure a cleaning contract. THE GRAVITY OF THIS MISCONDUCT ON THE PART OF SANDS IS SUCH THAT MINNIS AND THE OTHER CABINET MINISTERS SHOULD BE INSISTING ON HIS IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION FROM CABINET. FRANK SMITH IS UNDOUBTEDLY NOW GOING TO BE CLEARED AND WALK FREE BECAUSE OF THE VERY GRAVE MISCONDUCT OF SANDS. IF MINNIS TOLERATES THIS TYPE OF SERIOUS WRONGFUL BEHAVIOUR FROM A FELLOW MINISTER WITH NO CONSEQUENCE WHATSOEVER, THEN HE WILL TOLERATE ANY AND EVERY KIND OF WRONGFUL BEHAVIOUR BY HIMSELF AND ALL OTHER CABINET MINISTERS!!!!

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