A dried flowered bud of the Cannabis sativa plant

The manufacture, possession, and consumption of cannabis in Trinidad and Tobago is decriminalized.

In September 2018, Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced that he was in discussions with Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi on reviewing the country's cannabis legislation with the possibility of his People's National Movement government potentially decriminalizing the manufacturing, possession, and consumption of cannabis.[1][2][3] In December 2019, the government passed a bill in Parliament to decriminalize the cultivation and possession of small quantities of cannabis. The bill was proclaimed as law on 23 December 2019 by President Paula-Mae Weekes.

History

In 1915 Trinidad created the Ganja Ordinance, by which all cannabis sold on the island was gathered into bonded warehouses and distributed only to sellers who paid a license fee, similar to the system found in Bengal.[4] Cannabis was banned in the islands in 1925.[5]

Map of world cannabis laws for non-medical use
Legal status of cannabis for non-medical use
  Legal
  Illegal, but decriminalized
  Illegal, but often unenforced
  Illegal
  Legality unknown

Decriminalization

In 2018, the head of the Caribbean Collective for Justice has called for the nation to decriminalize cannabis.[6] In December 2018, Prime Minister Keith Rowley stated that cannabis would become decriminalized some time in June 2019.[7]

In November 2019, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi laid two bills in Parliament which decriminalize possession of less than 30 grams (1.1 oz) of marijuana, implement tiered penalties for possession of 30–60 grams (1.1–2.1 oz), and allow cultivation of up to four plants per adult.[8][9] The decriminalization bill was passed by both houses of Parliament and will be proclaimed into law on 23 December 2019, while the Cannabis Control Authority Bill was sent to a joint select committee.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Decriminalisation of marijuana in T&T by June 2019 says Rowley". www.looptt.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Trinidad and Tobago to examine marijuana use legislation – Prime Minister Rowley". CARICOM Today. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "PM: Government to review marijuana legislation in 2019". www.looptt.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  4. ↑ James H. Mills (11 September 2003). Cannabis Britannica: Empire, Trade, and Prohibition 1800-1928. OUP Oxford. pp. 139–. ISBN 978-0-19-155465-0.
  5. ↑ Axel Klein; Marcus Day; Anthony Harriott (13 November 2004). Caribbean Drugs: From Criminalization to Harm Reduction. Zed Books. pp. 58–. ISBN 978-1-84277-499-1.
  6. ↑ "T&T petition for decriminalisation of marijuana gathers momentum | Loop Trinidad & Tobago". Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  7. ↑ Hughes, Calvin (19 January 2019). "Two Groups of Caribbean Islands Just Changed Their Marijuana Laws". civilized.life. Civilized. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  8. ↑ Alexander, Gail (23 November 2019). "License to burn". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Four female plants to be allowed under Cannabis Control Bill". www.looptt.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  10. ↑ "Merry Christmas: Weed decriminalisation law to be proclaimed December 23".
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