NASSAU, Bahamas — The Davis administration released a compendium of bills that would transform cannabis use in The Bahamas from a strictly illegal activity to an industry regulated for medical, recreational, religious and scientific research purposes, The Tribune reported on Friday, August 25, in an article written by Letre Sweeting .
Officials discussed the long-anticipated proposal during yesterday’s briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister.
People caught with less than 30 grams of the substance would face a $250 fixed penalty, which would not appear on their criminal record if paid in time.
Those found with more than five hundred grams of dried cannabis would be presumed to possess the substance intending to supply it to others and could face a fine of up to $250k or imprisonment of up to ten years, or both. Possessing cannabis with the intent to supply it to a minor could carry a stiffer penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
Attorney General Ryan Pinder said: “There are offences related to the unlawful possession, possession with intent to supply, possession of unauthorised amounts of cannabis, production, unauthorised smoking of cannabis in public places and misrepresentations as to medical conditions.
“If you are outside the scope of this piece of legislation, you are committing an offence. If you are buying cannabis for recreational purposes, you are committing an offence. If you’re selling cannabis without a licence, you are committing an offence. If you are importing cannabis into the country without a licence, you are committing an offence. Those have not changed as a result of this legislation. We are proposing that current records be expunged for possession of amounts less than 30 grams.”
Several licences could be obtained under the proposed regime: 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.
See complete article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/aug/25/marijuana-legal-plans-revealed-bills-would-ease-re/
CAPTION: Attorney General Ryan Pinder speaking on Thursday, August 24. (Photo: Moise Amisial)
