Trinidad and Tobago wants to decriminalize cannabis and legalize it for medical and religious use

On Friday, the government of Trinidad and Tobago introduced two cannabis bills before its Parliament, one aimed at decriminalizing the possession of small amounts, and the other at legalizing the cannabis for medical purposes and religious.

In a speech before the House of Representatives, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi stated that the government wanted to reduce the prison population and the costs associated with incarceration for cannabis offenses, and to redirect law enforcement resources toward more serious crimes.

The first proposal would decriminalize possession of 30 grams of marijuana or 5 grams of hashish. For amounts above that and up to 60g, the offense would be punishable by a «fixed penalty notice» of approximately €7,000, which would have no impact on an individual’s criminal record if the fine is paid. The proposal would also authorize the cultivation of four plants for personal use. On this point, the text restricts cultivation to male plants (which do not produce the flowers commonly consumed), though it is unclear whether this is an error or intentional.

The second project The bill would authorize the sale, use, and distribution of cannabis for medical, research, and religious purposes.

A government regulatory agency would be responsible for issuing various licenses, including those for growers, laboratories, processors, dispensaries, importers, exporters, and transporters. Licenses would be granted only to companies with at least 30% in local investment, in order to «prevent abuses associated with multinational dominance in other territories.».

«After extensive research, broad consultation with stakeholders, and a thorough review of the legislation, the government is firmly convinced that it is time to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act and strictly regulate the research, cultivation, supply, and sale of marijuana. This will be achieved through the establishment of a cannabis regulatory authority,» Al-Rawi said.

People who falsely claim medical or religious use without a valid reason may face severe penalties. For example, a person who «uses medical cannabis without being authorized to do so by prescription or on the recommendation of a doctor» is liable to a fine and a sentence of ten years’ imprisonment.

The proposals also impose restrictions on public consumption. People working in certain sensitive industries, such as airlines or bus companies, would face additional restrictions on consumption.

Al-Rawi stated that the government was capable of effectively regulating the cannabis market but acknowledged that it might face some resistance. That said, the leader of the opposition party, Kamla Persad Bissessar, also expressed her support for the decriminalization of cannabis.

Last year, the leaders of 19 Caribbean countries have announced that they would review regulatory proposals to end the ban on cannabis. Since then, several countries such as Saint Christopher or the Barbados have taken steps to amend their countries' cannabis laws.