Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis contributed to debate on the Cannabis Bill in the House of Assembly on Monday.

During his presentation Mr. Davis said, “our goal was to ensure that we develop the must fair, balanced and effective legislative and regulatory mechanisms which would allow us to reap economic and health benefits while promoting law and order and keeping our people safe through the introduction of stringent standards.”

Once enacted the Cannabis Bill will decriminalize the possession of specified small amounts of Cannabis. The Prime Minister said many men and women living with criminal records for small amounts of Cannabis will be spared criminal records as a result of decriminalization. “As a society we realize that the old approach taken against Cannabis in the war or drugs in the 1980s and 90s does not necessarily our current reality. Too many lives have been lost because of a joint. Too many lives have been handicapped and potentials lost. When I say this I say it from my own personal experience having practiced in the criminal courts of this land. Many potentials of young men and women that has been crushed and handicapped because of one joint,” Mr. Davis said.

The Cannabis Bill seeks to create a legal and regulatory framework for the possession, sale, transport, manufacture, cultivation and distribution of Cannabis in The Bahamas.

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