By: Staff Writer
September 1, 2023
The Bahamas government released a compendium of bills that would transform cannabis use in The Bahamas from a strictly illegal activity to an industry regulated for medical, recreational, religious and scientific research purposes, but fell short on legalising industrial hemp.
The Attorney General, Ryan Pinder, KC, speaking at the Office of the Prime Minister’s press briefing, said that the long awaited cannabis legislation is now out for public consultation with a view in mind to having the legislation brought to parliament before the end of the year.
The suite of legislation will have provisions for medicinal marijuana, primarily, and also will have provisions for decriminalisation of anyone in possession of 30 grams marijuana and under.
Indian hemp, however, will “remain on the dangerous drug Act” as the minister for health, Michael Darville, explained that the government will be “making a big mistake,” if it too legalises Indian hemp along with medicinal marijuana, further citing its psychotropic dangers and high concentration of THC and CBD. “It can be used in the construction industry and the agricultural industry can be used and farming can be used to produce clothes and the list goes on and on and it has a very high concentration of CBD,” Dr Darville said.
Mr Pinder added: “We’re working on an industrial hemp Bill that will put the agribusiness framework around industrial hemp, working with the Ministry of Agriculture [and Marine Resources] with that because it is an agribusiness when you’re talking about hemp products.
“So that’s something we definitely think, and its my personal opinion, I think you’re going to see an economic impact greater on the industrial hemp side, frankly, because of the variety of products in which it can be used to for. So we support it and we will put in a proper framework by legislation on an industrial hemp bill, and work closely with [Ministry of] Agriculture on that.”
The MAMR will be assisting with providing land for marijuana cultivation. Mr Pinder said: “The Ministry of Agriculture is making provisions to provide access to agricultural land that they have oversight of. We all know that there’s a limited supply of agricultural land at Nassau that is available. They have set aside 25 acres of agricultural land in Nassau at their new agribusiness park that will be accessible for micro cultivation so for smaller farmers, to be able to have access.
“Needless to say, in the Family Islands there is much more opportunity on agricultural land, especially when you look at islands like Andros and Eleuthera.”
The development of cannabis products will be compressive and any and every variation of cannabis product will be made available to people who need them, regardless if it is in tea form, oil or lotion in addition to the plant itself.
Licenses will be given to Bahamians only as the government has decided to issue dispensing licenses to pharmacies and pharmacy professionals licensed in The Bahamas.
Mr Pinder also said: “In order to ensure that these new economic opportunities benefit the Bahamian people, we are proposing for example, all cultivation licenses must be 100 percent Bahamian owned and is also a priority that these opportunities are accessible to many Bahamians, a priority that will be evident in the award of cultivation licenses and the provision of agricultural land that will be set aside for this specific purpose.”
He also said: “The cannabis Bill 2023 seeks to establish the Bahamas cannabis authority with clearly defined terms of reference, including one; The protection of the health of the public by controlling access to cannabis; two provision for the legal protection of cannabis. Provision for the handling of cannabis for medical, scientific research and religious purposes.
“Provision for the provision and use of cannabis for medical purposes and for use in religious worship. Deterrence and reduction of unlawful activities related to cannabis through appropriate enforcement measures and sanctions.
“Imposing quality assurance measures for the safety, the efficacy and the effectiveness of cannabis. Provision for robust monitoring of cannabis throughout all phases of cultivation, straight to disposal.”