HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville.
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
BILLS legalising medical marijuana use and decriminalising recreational marijuana use will be passed before the end of this year, Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday.
He could not definitely say when the legislation will be tabled in the House of Assembly, but said it will be completed before the budget debate in June.
“Me and the Attorney General are wrapping up all of the parameters in order for them to be laid,” he said.
“I believe that we have something that is very palatable. It is good, and it is unique for The Bahamas.
“I believe it will prove to be very beneficial for patients who are seeking medical cannabis for serious medical illness and do not have to cross borders with certain derivatives of cannabis that is currently breaking the law.”
In April, the Rastafarian community expressed a desire to meet government officials before the legislation is tabled to ensure the government amended the original draft, which had elements they opposed.
Dr Darville said the meeting has not happened and could not say if it ever will.
“I can tell you that our bill, we did have serious consultation with various diffident subsets of the Rastafarian group and we are very concerned that we do it right,” he said.
“No one in any bill gets everything what they want, but I believe that through the mitigation and through the discussions, I think we have something that is workable, something that is safe, something that the Bahamian people could be proud of, and something that the community can benefit economically from the industry once it is put in place.”
Dr Darville declined to comment on the Rastafarian community’s desire for free cannabis cultivation licenses as reparations for years of being criminalised for marijuana possession, saying the decision is up to Cabinet.
The administration’s timeline for tabling and passing cannabis legislation has shifted repeatedly.
Several licences could be obtained under the original draft: a cultivation licence to permit the growing, harvesting and packaging of cannabis; a retail licence to sell cannabis and cannabis accessories for medical, scientific research and religious purposes; an analytical testing licence; a manufacturing licence for the manufacturing and packaging of cannabis and cannabis accessories; a research licence; a transport licence to deliver cannabis within the country and a religious use licence.
Comments
JohnDoes 2 weeks ago
Be prepared for the Number Boys to buy up all the Medical Dispensary licenses and dominate the market with their 'loose money.' Another market closed due to Number Boys buying everything out.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks ago
Bingo!
And you can bet certain of our more corrupt cabinet ministers have been busy behind the scenes negotiating silent partnership deals with King Sebas and other scumbag thugs like him. Small wonder we have not heard or seen much from Darville lately. He's been too busy wheeling and dealing in the dark to help the "right" people jockey into position whereby they will control and monopolize the entire cannabis industry in The Bahamas. The dumbed down D- educated are about to have what's left of their useless minds blown away by the worst kinds of cannabis.
LastManStanding 2 weeks ago
Sad but true. Decriminalizing weed is the right idea but we all know ordinary Bahamians will never be able to establish themselves in the business should it ever become fully legalized. Rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Sickened 2 weeks ago
I heard that they, and a couple white nights already have the growing licenses in hand.
JackArawak 2 weeks ago
They pushing the date back. From day one I said this is nothing more than a campaign stunt. They’ll promise it again next election
newcitizen 2 weeks ago
The government seems to have confused the words 'end of year' with the 'end of decade'. Why does the government even bother with giving timelines. They never get anything done by the time they say they will.
Sickened 2 weeks ago
Just like most things... I will still buy from foreign. It could be a while before the local stuff is ready for consumption (even thought it may be on the market).
carltonr61 2 weeks ago
If the USA Government goes on to declare Cannabis a schedule 3, then we would be looking at having it placed legally along with potatoes.
TalRussell 1 week, 6 days ago
Good sign do what I've been putting off. --- Create my shortlist from which to go shopping, very best Oven be baking Double Chocolate Weed Laced Brownies. --- Good baking times lie ahead, be even sweeter if custom duties and VAT are suspended. --- Yes?
hrysippus 1 week, 6 days ago
Are the gubmint’s plan to legalize weed. Are smokers’ votes just what they need? To win another four year term, Comin’ out the woodwork jus’ like worm? People catching politics like germ? And Rasta got a doob to burn.
With apologies to Pat Rahming.
Topdude 1 week, 6 days ago
We will rue the day if this nonsensical decision is put into law. Our children will be given the green light to justify the use of this mind altering drug. The legislators should know that the weed shops will have an inventory of other gateway drugs on sale. Fentanyl, heroin, amphetamine, and other prescription drugs will be available for sale to these young people. What bothers me about this proposed legislation is that the consequences have not been sufficiently studied. They could have at least done some benchmarking research. Had they done this fundamental aspect of decision making they would have discovered that in states where this drug was legalized drug abuse among the youth skyrocketed, crime increased, rape and child molestation went out of the roof and lung diseases with other neurological disorders . It is not too late to pull back from this plunge into the unknown.
temptedbythefruitofanother 1 week, 6 days ago
have you even been around stoned people?
DWW 1 week, 6 days ago
sounds like you been smoking it too heavy there buddy, maybe swith to popping a few more codiene or percoset or xanax, you know the good legal pharmaceuticals. and for god sake please don't drink anymore alcohol.
ExposedU2C 1 week, 6 days ago
The harmful mind altering effects from the habitual use of cannabis are well documented in the leading medical research journals around the world with young people being especially vulnerable to cannabis induced schizophrenia and bi-polar disorders for which there is no cure.
Many of the strains of cannabis grown today for recreational use have been genetically engineered to increase potency to dangerous levels. In instances of sustained heavier than usual use, the human brain is simply not able to withstand the harmful physiologically altering effects.
Only a quack medical doctor would support the recreational use of potent strains of cannabis on a regular basis. The commercially cultivated cannabis today is a far cry from the "weed" our parents may have smoked only a few decades ago.
DWW 1 week, 5 days ago
got a legit source to share or just spouting nonsense from your echo chamber? onset of schizoprenia can just as easily trigger by alcohol, or a car accident
ExposedU2C 1 week, 5 days ago
Sorry, but I'm not inclined to accept your invitation to crawl down your rabbit hole.
DWW 1 week, 6 days ago
and they just laughed and laughed and laughed....
carltonr61 1 week, 5 days ago
Official data from 1991 revealed that 14% of our population smoked Marijuana. We have no latest data that I could put my hands on. Germany just two weeks legalized cannabis that a vast majority of adults were already using it. Same here in the Bahamas. It should be a matter if choice. Regulation brought legsl enforcement to adults smoking around teens, and that is an area we finally could address through a Social Pact to not let teens use. But unregulated as to who could and who could not leaves this lawless situation where there are no rules for any body. THE WHO says that Cannabis use is endemic on The Bahamas and is widespread here. The UN 2023 study on the aftermath of of legalization noted that only nations with heaven cannabis use went that path with no adverse effects to nations with decades of history smoking.
Topdude 1 week, 5 days ago
Could it be that you were under the influence of marijuana while you writing this comment? It certainly appears to be so. Your commitment is totally incoherent and disjointed( no pun intended). Common let us review the evidence. How come marijuana use is not legal in Singapore?
carltonr61 1 week, 5 days ago
Marijuana is the oldest safest botanical medicine on Earth spanning thousands of years until 1940s/71 with President Richard Nixon War on Drugs. The side effects are happy, sleepy and hungry. In The Bahamas it has been endorsed by the Medical Association of The Bahamas and the Pharmaceutical Associations.
The Govetnment of The Bahamas will monetize Cannabis multi billion dollar industry by regulation and legalization.
Being HIGH begins after inhalation by Cranial nerve #2 calming everything about and within the eye. The eyelids begin to get heavy. The Cerabellum then relaxes all motor movements of muscles. The hunger hormones activate forcing Aids and Cancer Therapy Patients to eat. Dopermine responsible for happiness is released upping the mood levels of Clinically Depressed Patients and menopausal women. Cortisol, which is produced under chronic or long-term stress that causes heart attacks and strokes is deactivated along the Stress Axis or triangle.
There is too much that goes on toward a healthy life with Cannabis. It is destructive for adolescents whose brains continue to mature until age 25. All Executive Functions are impacted: planning, organizational skills, impulse control, thinking, memory etc. cannabahamas@gmail.com. licensed Certified Cannabis Consultant. Certified Cannabis for Primary Care, Canadian Association of Mentsl Health. CAMH.
ExposedU2C 1 week, 5 days ago
While you're at it, you should visit the many websites that lay claim to recreational cocaine and heroin having medicinal effects and are healthy for one's mental well-being. lol
carltonr61 1 week, 4 days ago
From the 1960s until within the past 5 years led by USA War On Drugs mote people are smoking X 1 million. It was a failure to prevent and dictate to humans not to smoke through fear of fined and jail time without first writing down the dangers. No dangers were ever given. And none exists to this day after 60 years except for a culture brainwashed into fear eith no evidence or explanation to verify why the fear.
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