Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters in St Vincent Monday it would be irresponsible for her to make a decision on decriminalisation of medical marijuana without consultations with the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
She spoke with the media about the issue after Monday's debate on the matter at the Caricom inter-sessional meeting, at which she handed over the chairmanship of the regional movement to host PM Ralph Gonsalves.
The matter of medical marijuana was one of the items on the meeting's lengthy agenda. Delegates were asked to seriously consider the move to amend national laws to allow the use of marijuana use for social and religious purposes.
Persad-Bissessar said the leaders have agreed in principle to discuss the matter but they did not take any decision because they have to take it back to their respective populations.
Persad-Bissessar said the leaders have agreed in principle to discuss the matter but they did not take any decision because they have to take it back to their respective populations.
"I don’t think as a responsible politician I would want to comment without getting feedback from the people of T&T," she said. "It’s being done in other countries and certain US states and it is something certainly worth considering... for medical purposes," she added.
She pointed to research that shows that when marijuana use is decriminalised, crime and security issues lessen. She also said she doesn't see the herb as one that is a powerful narcotic. But she stressed that she has made no decision. "We will have further discussions. Research has to be done and when we have that before us we will take it to T&T for public discussion."
Marijuana sales and use were legal in Trinidad and Tobago up to the 1940s. Licensed shops were allowed to buy and sell ganja under strict state supervision. Anecdotal evidence from the period suggest that the trade did not create social and behavioral problems similar to those associated with alcohol.
She pointed to research that shows that when marijuana use is decriminalised, crime and security issues lessen. She also said she doesn't see the herb as one that is a powerful narcotic. But she stressed that she has made no decision. "We will have further discussions. Research has to be done and when we have that before us we will take it to T&T for public discussion."
Marijuana sales and use were legal in Trinidad and Tobago up to the 1940s. Licensed shops were allowed to buy and sell ganja under strict state supervision. Anecdotal evidence from the period suggest that the trade did not create social and behavioral problems similar to those associated with alcohol.
No comments:
Post a Comment