UK Parliament: Q&A On Cannabis Licensing Bill
The decision by Britain to block Bermuda’s Cannabis Licensing Bill 2022 was the topic of recent discussion in UK Parliament.
In September 2023, Bermuda’s UK appointed Governor declined to provide assent to the Cannabis Licensing Bill, which in effect, blocked Bermuda’s ability to implement the legislation which passed in the House of Assembly.
During the British Parliament’s session on June 12th, Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell — who has previously visited Bermuda – asked the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, “if he will review the decision to recommend the withholding of Assent to the Bermuda Cannabis Licensing Bill 2022.”
In response, Assistant Whip [HM Treasury], Parliamentary Under-Secretary [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] David Rutley said, “The decision to reserve the Bermuda Cannabis Licencing Bill for the signification of Her Majesty was made by the Governor of Bermuda acting in accordance with her Constitutional role, as it appeared to her to be inconsistent with the UK’s international obligations.
“The former Foreign Secretary then considered the Bill and concluded that, as drafted, it was inconsistent with international obligations held by the UK and Bermuda under UN conventions. On that basis, assent could not legitimately be given.
“The UK is deeply committed to working in partnership with Bermuda and remains available and willing to discuss new proposals on cannabis legislation, to find a way forward that works for Bermuda whilst also remaining within the scope of existing international obligations.”
A tiny hit for the illegal drug cartels who are cleaning up with increased sales wherever marijuana has been legalized.
LOL, …what do you know about anything?
Clearly, far more than you will ever know. Wait, if I recall correctly, you do not even live in Bermuda.
The PLP Dropped the ball on this by rushing the legislation through bottom line!!!
also funny that the article states that the UK government is willing to help draft a correct bill and move forward… instead they are going to use this to justify cutting ties with the UK….“The UK is deeply committed to working in partnership with Bermuda and remains available and willing to discuss new proposals on cannabis legislation, to find a way forward that works for Bermuda whilst also remaining within the scope of existing international obligations.
this island is doomed if this current BURT administrating is left to do as they will
sad that I a third gen Bermudian has had to start looking for other countries to call home..as this island has changed over the last few years” for the worst”
I do not believe that the PLP Government dropped the ball. I believe the conflict was intentionally created so that the PLP Government could float the independence balloon without making a commitment to Bermudians.
SPOT ON!
Everything the PLP does is to position itself for the next election and deflect from the plethora of failures.
Don’t get mad because your beloved obaUBPpp can’t get the party together for a win of 7 seats or more LOL.
Why are you so angry?
Is it because you’re poor and uneducated…which explains your racism?
Too bad you voted for this. LMFAO
If I recall correctly, you do not even live in Bermuda.
Are you and Karen related? You both believe that pointing out the obvious makes one mad or angry. Why is that?
You have no ideal who i am…ConcernedBermudian.
LMFAO
I’m angry because I’m jobless, uneducated and I voted for the plp.
Why would I be mad, Karen?
Because you responded twice, within an hour.
You seem angry, Chad.
LMFAO…hit the nail on the head. LOL
So you and Hi Karen are the same angry off-island person posting under different names. Sad…
Which LOL – the real one are you?
LMFAO
You need to understand what hypocrite means.
You’re always angry, Todd.
I understand Jarion will be the next front man to be used in this circus. He really needs to distance himself from a party that changed its name to run from its racist past.
If they would just put forward something similar to Germany the UK could be more agreeable. Just sad.
It’s not a matter of the UK being more agreeable, it’s a matter of international treaty obligations.
Are you suggesting that Bermuda need not adhere to its international treaty obligations while insisting that other countries do so?
What news on causeway hydro electric sluces/ opposit side impellors…this can be paid for through Belcourt feeding back into present gride or even charging stations at airport or ferry reach charging stations…contact On the go building and maint. For details.
It is simply an oversight of the government and Attorney General as they rushed the bill in the attempt to appease the public. Simply put no recreational drugs can legally cross international borders and that is the obligation that the UK have to uphold. Therefore even if we went independent it would not change anything as far as international agreements. The government and Attorney General have to do better homework; they need to do an in depth legislation for medical cannabis and then remove importation and exportation of recreational cannabis from the legislation to get it approved. This is why most places that legalize spend so much time on the medical cannabis legislation first before they even look at the recreational cannabis. Funny how they are saying that they are following in Canada’s footsteps but they have missed several important steps and added an additional and impossible step. This is why people that have no connection to cannabis should not be the ones to write the laws about cannabis!
“This is why people that have no connection to cannabis should not be the ones to write the laws about cannabis!”
YEAH! Let’s do WhatsApp conference calls with some Mexican and Colombian drug lords and get their input on how to write legislation legalizing marijuana in Bermuda. Bring on the experts!
It was not an oversight. Please, try not to be so gullible.
It has to be viewed as an oversight because it is rude to suggest incompetence. In any case it is a sad state of affairs for the Attorney General to not have considered international relations and agreements when drafting a law that includes international activities such as importing and exporting.
Bermudians are rude. It is incompetence.
So says the white supremacist.
Thank you for that sweeping generality describing me and my family.
“they rushed the bill in the attempt to appease the public”
Why? David Burt called a snap election in 2020 and he has until 2025 to fulfill his election promises. There was no need for any rush.
The PLP could call the election now or later black Bermudians will not vote for a party aka OBA that has racist party supporters. Its not the entire OBA but that 10% that call black Bermudians uneducated and sheep. Their blogging actually hinders the chance of black former supporters ever returning. That’s the truth.
Thank you for that party political propaganda.
30 vs 6 and the oba losing the next election 2 years away isn’t propaganda Joe.
Not sure how you came to that conclusion. This was on the plp’s list of things that they were going to do in their first 30 days back in office. E D Burt promised that licensing would be available in December 2017. 5 and a half years later and he has made zero progress save the importation limits for medical cannabis being increased from 1 gram to 2000 grams per year.
Why are you so angry about everything?
Talk about timing!
New York Post June 4, 2023 – Legalized weed isn’t working, blame voters for 2024 trainwreck and other commentary
The George Soros-funded Drug Policy Alliance “has been instrumental in legalizing marijuana in 11 states and Washington, D.C.,” warn the Washington Examiner’s editors, yet the promised benefits “have failed to materialize, leaving hundreds of communities with more addiction, death, and chaos.” Marijuana is “linked to schizophrenia and permanent brain damage” and “has become more addictive and more damaging.” Legalization results in “more addicts, more brain damage, and more ruined families.” Its so-called benefits have not reduced crime, increased tax revenues or resulted in “fewer people taking opioids and fentanyl.” Regulations and heavy taxes have spawned “a vast illicit market that easily undercuts the legal market.” Citizens must fight the lies “when the Drug Policy Alliance starts trying to legalize marijuana in their state.”