The government is seeking to move beyond decriminalisation and provide for the regulatory control of the handling of cannabis for certain purposes.
This was revealed by Attorney General, Reginald Armour as he piloted the Cannabis Control Bill, 2020 in the Senate Tuesday afternoon.
The AG said the move will ensure the establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago Cannabis Licensing Authority and connected matters.
AG Armour said the government is concerned about regulating the use and handling of cannabis so the country can reap the societal, legal and economic benefits of the proper use, cultivation and sale, and medicinal and religious use of the cannabis and its related products.
AG Armour also said the bill creates an Authority whose members are appointed by the President and whose function include the granting, amending, suspending, revoking or cancelling of licenses.
It will also include the inspecting, monitoring and assessing the handling of cannabis, taking enforcement measures in the event of non-compliance and establishing and maintaining a registry of licenses and other connected functions.
The AG also reviewed Jamaica’s decision to decriminalised cannabis in 2015.
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