Could citizens be able to give “weed” as a gift for Christmas?
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi is taking note to Cabinet today to seek proclamation of the recently passed law to allow people to legally possess 30 grammes to marijuana.
Al-Rawi announced this in the Senate yesterday during the debate on a bill to abolish preliminary inquiries.
Before the debate, the Trinidad Guardian had asked him when the recently passed marijuana bill would be proclaimed and if it would become law in time for Christmas.
The Dangerous Drugs (amendment) bill (DDA) which allows lawful possession of a minimum of 30 grammes of marijuana and maximum of 60 grammes, was passed in the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament in recent weeks.
A second bill - the Cannabis Control bill- which pertains to various aspects of a cannabis sector from licensing, control and inspection to the formulation of businesses was referred to a Joint Select Committee which has to report by February 29.
In yesterday’s debate, Al-Rawi said an estimated 8,500 cases for marijuana possession would be eliminated from the judicial system, with the enactment of the DDA law.
After the passage of any bill in Parliament, it has to be assented to - notification for which hasn’t been received yet - and proclaimed to become law.
In the debate, Al-Rawi said every law being passed currently will be operationalised early next year. He said the vast majority of law Government has passed have become operational.
He said the Motor Vehicles amendment act which was passed earlier, will come into force by January 22, and 104,000 traffic cases would be shifted out of the system also.
He also said the Waterfront Complex - from which the Parliament is relocating back to the Red House - will house new courts, adding to Hall of Justice facilities. He said courts will have audio and video recordings of trials much “like the Parliament Channel”.
