Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:


After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

Bermuda Urged to Decriminalize Marijuana

Latin American Herald Tribune

Tuesday 13 May 2014

HAMILTON, Bermuda – A government-appointed task force is recommending the decriminalization of marijuana in this Overseas British Territory and urging Bermuda authorities to take “immediate action to enable access to medical cannabis with a prescription”.

Current drug policy squanders resources and ruins lives, as career options become limited once a criminal record is established, the Cannabis Reform Collaborative said in a 137-page report.

Among the CRC’s recommendations are the introduction of a less punitive warning regime, an end to racial profiling in the legal system, increasing the legal drinking age to 21 and more spending on cannabis education and prevention.

“Where it is found that reform is in fact warranted, changes will only be made in a measured fashion with careful consideration of the Bermudian context,” National Security Minister Michael Dunkley told legislators last Friday in presenting the document.

Caribbean countries have been discussing the idea of decriminalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes and a report on the issue is be discussed at July’s summit of regional leaders in Antigua.

The CRC report notes that a “phased approach to cannabis reform offers the benefits of assessing, establishing and implementing long-term plans that focuses on more efficient prevention initiatives, effective treatment programs that are supported by the Ministry of Health and sensible, society-guided regulations that our community understands.”

“Medical access should be a top priority in this phased approach,” the CRC said, pointing to “a significant and growing body of research (that) continues to highlight and expand the medical potential of cannabis.”

The primary advantage of decriminalizing marijuana use would be that “a sizeable portion of society will no longer be criminalized,” the report says.

“Avoiding criminal offences will have a positive impact on the lives of these people, as they will have a better chance to obtain employment or schooling abroad. This may ultimately have a positive effect on society as a result,” the CRC suggested.

While funds now spent on arresting and incarcerating pot users could be diverted to education and prevention programs.

“With an increase of prevention initiatives... Bermuda will continue to see a decrease in substance use and abuse,” the report states.

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2185642&CategoryId=14092

 

 

 

After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back. 




This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.

Feel free to link to this page!