Guyana: the government is considering decriminalizing small quantities of cannabis

Guyana's Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, announced that he would quickly launch nationwide public consultations on the decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis.

«The Progressive People's/Civic Party (PPP/C) has promised to hold a broad consultation on the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. The president has asked me to begin the process shortly, and I will do so,» said declared Anil Nandlall.

The issue gained traction after several cases in which people caught with small amounts of cannabis were given the same sentence as those caught with large amounts of cannabis or cocaine. In May 2018, for example, Carl Mangal’s sentencing to three years in prison for possession of 8.4g of cannabis with intent to distribute sparked widespread outrage.

Former President David Granger announced in September 2018 that his cabinet had approved the elimination of prison sentences for possession of small amounts of cannabis and that the necessary amendments to existing legislation would be made after the National Assembly returned from recess later in October. Granger’s government fell following a no-confidence vote in December 2018, and the issue has not progressed since then.

Guyana attended the 39th regular meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government in June 2018 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. At the meeting, the heads of government had discussed the status of cannabis as an illicit drug and the possibilities for decriminalization and legalization.

At that meeting, it was agreed that each Member State would determine its own path for pursuing the necessary legislative reforms, as proposed by the Commission, based on its own situation—a plan supported by the Guyanese government at the time. The For example, Dominique announced last week that he would decriminalize.

Alongside these reflections on cannabis, Anil Nandlall also announced explore the possibility of growing industrial hemp with a THC content of -0.3%. The Guyana Hemp Association estimates that a cultivated area of 100,000 hectares could create between 40,000 and 50,000 sustainable jobs. It also suggests that, to start, 500 Guyanese families be allocated 10 hectares of land for industrial hemp. Once established, these hemp farms could then expand further.