It was November 21 when legislation to have marijuana decriminalised was laid in the Trinidadian Parliament. The legislation proposed to allow persons to have up to 30 grammes of marijuana in their possession.
30 to 60 grammes of marijuana will be issued a fixed penalty notice by police. Once paid on time, AG Al-Rawi said this will not affect a person’s criminal record. failure to do so, the offender may face a fine of up to $50,000. Persons will not be allowed to smoke marijuana in public spaces, including the workplace, or while around children.
Persons who have a conviction or charge in relation to under 60 grams of marijuana will be allowed to apply to the court to have it dismissed and removed from their criminal record.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi speaking at the PNM local government meeting in La Horquetta on the November 20 said courts were clogged by cases of marijuana possession. As many as 85,000 matters clogging up the court system today has to do with marijuana possession.
He also stated approximately 500 people "currently sit down in a jail" because they can't access bail, costing Trinidad and Tobago taxpayers around $700 million.
He said decriminalising marijuana in Trinidad and Tobago, will "free up 60 per cent of Forensic's workload" and allow the court to focus on more serious crimes.
Al-Rawi said from 2007 to 2018 there have been 84,668 matters for possession of marijuana in the courts.
Last Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley who announced that President Paula-Mae Weekes is expected to proclaim the legislation for the decriminalisation of marijuana on Monday December 23, 2019.
Rowley said the Cabinet approved the date for the proclamation of The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
The Bill was passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
"Once it is proclaimed a new State will exist and that will allow us to do a number of things including persons who are incarcerated for the minimum quantities, to be released and persons who have to get their records expunged there is a process," he said.
Once decriminalised, some of the benefits include: a person would be able to possess 30 grams of marijuana and under. They would also be able to have four marijuana plants male or female at their home per person.
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