7 Gram Cannabis Decriminalisation Bill Tabled

December 4, 2017

The Misuse of Drugs [Decriminalisation of Cannabis] Amendment Act 2017 — which seeks to remove criminal sanctions for possessing under 7 grams of cannabis — was tabled in the House of Assembly.

The Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum said, ”This Bill amends the Misuse of Drugs Act 1972  to remove criminal sanctions for the possession by any person of cannabis that does not exceed the specified statutory amount.

“Clause 2 amends section 6 of the principal Act to decriminalise the possession of cannabis lower than the statutory amount where criminal sanctions will not apply, and makes savings provision for prosecution for intent to supply.

“Clause 3 inserts a new section 25A empowering the police to seize cannabis in the possession of any person and also provides for drug education or drug treatment.

“Clause 4 inserts a new Schedule 8 that specifies the amount of cannabis below which criminal sanctions will not apply.”

The PLP, when in Opposition, tabled a similar Bill in May 2017, and although the Bill passed, the election was called shortly after the Bill passed.

The Misuse of Drugs  [Decriminalisation of Cannabis] Amendment Act 2017 follows below [PDF here]

click here Bermuda cannabis decriminalization

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Comments (36)

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  1. sonso says:

    Either leave the law as is, or full legalize. Decriminalization only glorifies the drug dealers and will most probably increase their already inflated profits.

    Do you know that a quarter of weed costs $200 on the streets in Bermuda. That same quarter in Colorado is a measly $50. For $10 more you can get the highest quality offered.

    Regulate and tax is the way forward, come on PLP. You guys are all for new ways of generating revenue, how has none of your 24 strong parliamentary team not seen right through this useless bill, and push for something more meaningful??

    • Clear Blue says:

      Getting this bill passed makes it easier to get further bills passed

    • Boom bye bye says:

      Stuff has to be imported here at great risk. Therefore the higher prices.

    • Clint says:

      Personally I don’t want to have to breathe in other people’s weed smoke as I’m walking down the street, or even worse when my child is with me…

      So NO, legalizing it is not a sensible option, I don’t care how much money the Gov’t can make..

      • sage says:

        Nearly 200,000 people die from second hand cigarette smoke annually worldwide, thousands of internal combustion vehicles spewing carbon monoxide locally, government spraying carcinogenic roundup all over the place, don’t forget Belco smokestacks and all you worry about is an herb that is medicinal and has never killed anyone? I feel sorry for your child.

      • Lol says:

        But you don’t mind breathing in cigarette smoke?? Hypocritical!! Weed smells better than cigs. OH and weed actually has health benefits unlike Cigs. Research or shut up…its 2017 n Bermuda is way behind the times. Legalizing will drop crime rate and make ppl that sell herb for a living get jobs.

    • Real Deal says:

      you mean $280 $300 for top shelf. $200 is most likely some dodo!
      i hear you bro but before we legalize here we need to get some laws in place so that big companies don’t swoop in and take the profit overseas in the industry that i think should be Bermudian run and Bermudian owned no exceptions.

      lots of money is already leaving the island in the illegal trade, we need that to stop once it is legal.

      but we need to figure out how to grow and process it before it is legal gov has to figure out how to legislate that or guess workers will be bought in for this too.

      so what i am saying is in the end there is a lot of work to be done for the change in law to fully benefit Bermuda and Bermudians

  2. BermudaOne says:

    Wow, PLP is the party for who like to party. The main things they have focused on so far seem to be changing the date of a public holiday (last time they were in power they copied the National Heroes Day from the Caribbean), legalization of drug use and forcing their religious/personal views on marriage into law. While there have been 15 road deaths so for this year, instead of passing laws to make the roads safer, they choose to do this.

    • Lloyd says:

      It’s the individual driving they collide on straight roads.

    • sage says:

      Are you suggesting prohibiting alcohol? If you are for SSM how do you support jailing people for using a beneficial plant? Cherry picking rights? PLP needs to fully legalize it, not come with some 7 gram BS, too little too late.

  3. Joe Bloggs says:

    This is being done because for years Bermudians with convictions for possession of small amounts of weed have been denied entry into the US.

    The Bermuda Government seems to think that if the names of the people caught in the future do not appear in media then that will solve the problem.

    • Jus' Wonderin' says:

      This is being done because for years Bermudians with convictions for possession of small amounts of weed have been denied entry into the US

      THIS IS APPLIED TO EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD COMING INTO THE US….THERE IS NO “BERMUDA STOPLIST” lmfao

      • Joe Bloggs says:

        JW, you may not be aware but back in the 1980s the US Consulate actually admitted it got the names of those convicted of drug offences in Bermuda from media. Not many places have 100% reporting (or nearly so) of criminal convictions, however minor. Certainly Canada and the UK do not.

        That and the fact that I am a Bermudian writing in Bermuda, from Bermuda, about how Bermuda is affected, was my point.

        • sage says:

          I watched Mexican smugglers caught on “Border Wars” denied re-entry for 10 years, Bermuda, one microscopic flake or a seed is 99 years inelegibility for us. DUI strangely doesn’t qualify, go figure.

  4. J R Smith says:

    It’s a start. Bermuda put down the alcohol and burn a joint or eat an edible. Ganja is healing of the nations.

    • Clint says:

      Not everyone wants to pollute their lungs with smoke lol..

      Drinking is only a major problem when combined with a vehicle..

      • sage says:

        Yeah, because alcohol fetal syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, pancreatitis, and wet brain etc., etc., or the fact alcohol is consistently associated with violent crime is nothing to worry about.

      • Lol says:

        Clint ..youre never going to see someone stoned (high off weed) trying to fight the police or being a disturbance in public. Oh and not goin need a liver transplant either. ;)

        • Toodle-oo says:

          Your choice , either a liver transplant or a lung transplant.

      • Common Sense says:

        This Clint person I really feel sorry for. How many lives, actually young lives have we lost to drunk driving/riding. WAKE UP CLINT!

      • Sara says:

        I feel sorry that you are so misinformed about the dangers of alcohol. Guess you have been living under a rock.

  5. Pondering says:

    so I don’t quite understand. It’s ok to have under 7 grams, but what about the person you buy it from? They’re ok to supply with no penalty?

    • Clint says:

      They get arrested and charged with intent to supply, and possession of OVER 7 grams lol..

      Lay off the weed bro lol…

  6. Legalise says:

    Legalise it. Don’t critise it.
    Bob Marley

  7. Sara says:

    This is a small start to becoming part of the modern world.

  8. will says:

    how much are we allowed to grow ?

  9. Sara says:

    Canada could make billions from legal pot

    http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/02/news/canada-cannabis/index.html

  10. I'm Guy says:

    How can we make roads safer… Let’s be honest, people break the laws every single day.. It isnt about rules, ignorance doesn’t follow rules and complaining about it doesnt help…. Wanna make a difference, get involved and see the process instead of being on the internet complaining…. Again, I’m just Guy.

  11. Real Deal says:

    well at less the crew ship visitors wont get persecuted anymore

  12. Jim Gibson says:

    Decriminalization of cannabis does not mean we need to be like addicts! We can be responsible cannabis users. Thanks for the great info!