Regulatory And Licensing System For Cannabis
“The vast majority of our caucus supports this bill, and I have no doubt that it will pass the House of Assembly tomorrow,” Premier David Burt said in advance of the debate on the cannabis bill in the House of Assembly on Friday [Feb 19].
A PLP spokesperson said, “The Progressive Labour Party pledged in its 2020 election platform to complete the regulation and taxation of cannabis and ensure revenues from cannabis taxes will be redirected to invest in communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition.
“As such, the PLP Government held a public consultation process on the proposed regulated cannabis regime last year ahead of the tabling of the Cannabis Licensing Act 2020 in the House of Assembly in December.
“The objective of the Act is to provide for a regulatory and licensing system to regulate the sale, supply, import, cultivation, manufacture, research, transport or export of cannabis or medicinal cannabis for specific purposes.
In advance of the debate, Premier and PLP Party Leader David Burt said, “We have a long history within the Progressive Labour Party of not holding members of our backbench to a party whip on items that could be considered to offend the conscience of some of our members.
“Therefore, there will be a conscience vote allowed to members of the PLP backbench tomorrow and our backbenchers are free to speak their mind. Tomorrow, we look forward to a robust debate in the House of Assembly on this legislation. All of us love Bermuda and only want what is best for our island.
“The vast majority of our caucus supports this bill, and I have no doubt that it will pass the House of Assembly tomorrow. I want to thank the Attorney General, the Hon. Kathy-Lynn Simmons, and all of the technical officers in the Ministry of Legal Affairs for their work to date on this important initiative.”
The Cannabis Licensing Act 2020 follows below [PDF here]:
More rules, regulations and unnecessary oversight than for killer drugs like cancer sticks, booze and pharmaceuticals. Round-up and other chemicals don’t require dedicated transportation. This is overkill. They suggest certain strains may be banned, yet cancer sticks are still sold here without the legally required nicotine and tar levels. This is a money grab by greedy clowns with zero conscience.
I wish they would identify the “advisory” board members then we could see why it is drafted straight from a rabid prohibitionist mindset. FAIL.
No need to worry, it will all go to pot very quickly. I read the whole thing. It’s utterly unenforceable.
More interestingly, there are very few places that meet the criteria for distance away from schools and churches. Also, many of the few suitable properties probably have resident kids which therefore precludes them too. All of which brings me the conclusion that the crony network is in play and they have the cornering of the commercial grow market all figured out.
What do you mean by “cancer sticks”? Commercially made cigarettes?
If you are trying to suggest that cannabis does not have tar or nicotine then you are quite wrong.
Yes cigarettes, cannabis doesn’t have nicotine, tar yes, but despite that cigarettes directly cause cancer, not the tobacco itself so much but the additives, and cannabis does not. In fact studies has shown a protective affect. Look up death statistics for legal and illegal substances. Spoiler alert, cannabis is 0.
Agreed, there is no need to over complicate this.
The legislation represents a significant step forward.
Thank you to the PLP for making this initiative reality.
When it passes, the ability to improve it becomes possible!
Have you read the proposal? Why not do it right first time around? Jamaican proverb: “What has gone bad in the morning can’t come good in the evening.”
“The vast majority of our caucus supports this bill, and I have no doubt that it will pass the House of Assembly tomorrow,” Premier David Burt said in advance of the debate on the cannabis bill in the House of Assembly on Friday”
I too have no doubt that the Bill will pass.
One of the problems will be (when tourism resumes) the tourists who complain that they are being targeted for bringing their own weed to a place where weed is legal.
And this will not stop Bermudians from being placed on the U.S. “blacklist”. It will only prevent their convictions in Bermuda.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I was told that it was the guilty verdict to a “Criminal Conviction” that puts people on the “stop list”. If it was down graded to a misdemeanor charge such as in certain states it would not be an issue.
LOL they never seem to tell us the whole truth here which is it. Maybe BermudaLaw.com if you can read it.