Belize on the road to decriminalizing cannabis

The Parliament of Belize, a small Central American country south of Mexico, has given the green light to an amendment to its Misuse of Drugs Act.

The new law would decriminalize the possession of 10 grams of cannabis and its use at home or in hotels and residences where such use is permitted.

The bill must still be considered by the Senate and then signed into law by the Governor General before it can take effect.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow had stated in August, when the bill was presented to Parliament: «I am very enthusiastic. Clearly, this is only a first step—and a small one at that—and I know there will be opponents. I think we’ll hear about it in churches. But I feel—both personally, that this is the right thing to do, and also that society as a whole will support it.».

During the debate in Parliament, opposition leader John Briceño expressed his reluctance to stop at decriminalization.

«I feel like it would have been better if we had conducted all the studies and were ready to take it even further—toward the legalization of cannabis. Although I respect the opinions of those who are against it, I believe there are many benefits to legalizing the use of cannabis in small quantities.».