24/12/2019
*****nadecriminalization
WHAT DOES THE PROCLAMATION ISSUED FOR THE DECRIMINALISATION OF CANNABIS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO MEAN?
Today, Monday, December 23, 2019, the Honourable Faris Al-Rawi, M.P., Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and a group of Attorneys will engage the Courts to help disaggregate data to see who could benefit from the new Law. All courts, throughout the country, are now compiling records to review the Cannabis cases on people on Remand and under conviction.
Most importantly with the process beginning today, retroactively, it will also expunge from the records, convictions against 85,000 plus persons who were in the past ten years before the courts for possession of under 30 grammes.
The Attorney General stresses that "the matter of having more than 30 grammes of ma*****na or the plant was not the focus of the law but the immediate stopping of arresting people for small amounts."
He added that there were 87 adults and 14 children in the prison system who will benefit from the decriminalisation of the drug. Some of them would have been held for a little as half a gramme of ma*****na. He said it made no sense for someone who couldn’t pay a TT$1,000 fine to be housed in jail for three months at a cost of TT$75,000 to the State.
The Proclamation states that the Provisions of The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act will come into effect on Monday, December 23, 2019.
This Act allows persons to use ma*****na in the privacy of their homes once they are not in the company of a child.
From today, adults can have in their possession up to 30 grammes of ma*****na and each adult in every home can own up to four plants.
Section 6(A) states that anyone with more than 30 grammes, but not more than 60 grammes, of Cannabis; or (B) more than five grammes, but not more than 10 grammes, of Cannabis resin, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000. Regarding the growing of four plants, the law states that a person can cultivate or have in their possession not more than four growing female plants of the genus Cannabis which is found in section 6(2A).
The Attorney General says that the Cannabis Control Bill will address all other concerns regarding possession of over 30 grammes of ma*****na.
The Attorney General would like to remind users to be careful about where they get their ma*****na as some sellers may be lacing their product with other drugs.
Photo of the Hall of Justice courtesy of Roberto Codallo
Photo of the Port of Spain Children’s Court courtesy of Navindra Harbukhan
Photo of The Port of Spain Magistrates' Court courtesy of cnc3.co.tt