Minister for Justice, Immigration and National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore has said government is hoping to examine Dominica’s position legally, socially and economically with regard to the use of marijuana.
He was addressing the first National Consultation on Cannabis held at the Goodwill Parish Hall on Friday.
The use of marijuana is still illegal in most countries around the globe and the issue of whether the government should allow the use of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes has been, and continues to be, a burning topic.
“We hope to take a look as to where we are legally, socially, economically in regards to the use of marijuana and where we seek to go as a mature civilized people,” he said.
According to Blackmoore, one of the areas of greatest interest, is the medical value of marijuana and how Dominicans maximize and draw on this fully.
“What is the role of Dominica at this time in relation to marijuana? And more importantly what is Dominica’s place in the change that is sweeping this globe?” He asked. “There have been years of research of marijuana. What is the status on quality of that research? More importantly what is the truth about marijuana?”
He added, “We need as a nation to orient our minds as adults on the following; one, how can the use of Marijuana help us? And secondly, but very important, how can it hurt us?”
Blackmoore believes that it would be remiss of the government not to have these issues fully explored and spoken of, “but these discussions will also help us to develop a template as to which direction we should take as a mature and emerging people.”
Furthermore, he said that the status of marijuana legally must also be reviewed, “but however before we depart so quickly from our current position, it must be considered what we may and may not have to put in place to support a society where the legal status of marijuana may be changed.”
Hence, the reason the government have sought information and research of a wide variety of groups of persons worldwide and in the region, the Justice Minister stated.
He said persons must remember that while the use of marijuana is being legalized in many first world countries, “we must never forget that our realities do not mirror the realities of first world countries in many respects.”
they want to use it as a form of control, yes children should have access to it for recreational purposes, but that is the case for alcohol.
SO why hasnt the government done this? THe government is all too knowledgeable of this matter being brought up in the mainstream media. The pressure is now in them as a result of Lennox Linton’s infomration as well as the recent consultations for CARICOM states which they have pushed back for years. Only now, ONLY NOW you are pressed to do so. And even you are not prepared as a government, as a group of professionals, as a bunch of lackadaisical, hypocritical, blockers and non believers. With allllllllll of the information available on cannabis, with all the successful examples both in and out of the region to study. Only now at the end of 2018 you are forced to do so. Well guess what, the people and the region demands that of you. go and do your jobs. And we will not vote for you based on the prospect of marijuana. Because WITH OR WITHOUT YOU IT WILL BE LEGAL SOON.
Government should give trained farmers a license to grow weed. Imagine how wealthy our Country will become selling weed cheaper that the US, Canada and elsewhere can produce it with their temperate climates. This is a golden opportunity for us.
Farmers should just grow it freely. A license is when the government takes away your rights and then rents them back to you.
Reading between the lines, this government is out of favor in decriminalization and legalization of marijuana even for medical purposes. This consultation phase is a charade, a complete farce. The supposedly discussions on the merits and demerits of the legal use of marijuana are meticulously calculated for strictly political optics. The government’s meetings on this very important issue are an optical illusion. Nothing is going to change. They have fooled the people so many times that they have sought to do it again, taking the people for a short joyride. This is a pedestrian government, comprised of a daft leader and his faithful apostles that have used power to serve themselves.
Quite clearly you could tell Skerrit and the DLP are cornered and they don’t know what to do and what to say. Preferably they would prefer the canabis law to stay as is now because it suits them. Young men with girlfriend and wife are being jailed and as a result male ministers have to give them a handout and as the calypsonian rightly sang, there is no free lunch. But the DLp has another reason to say something you know because many young people use cannabis for medicinal, religious and economical reasons and Mr. Linton and the UWP has taken the lead by miles, as they advocate for what these young people have been asking for for years. So the DLp is now trying to see if they can catch some votes. Clearly they are not in it because of Caricom, the economics, the medicinal or because they want people to use it for religious purposes. The only reason they open their mouths is to see if they can catch some votes, that’s it.
You could always smell a skunk a mile away. It’s my dam business now I see you are tired 😴 of being pounded as the views expressed and % so you are assuming a new nontoxic identity. Where you sold yourself is mentioning the Honorable Linton. The only person praising Linton is Linton himself. Get a job and become a functional member of society not a 🛏 parasite.
Me – you are a fool. A fact is a fact. I myself have a very good job and i am fully functional in more ares than one in society. I also use the plant. I also agree with Lennox Linton on this matter and thank him for bring the information about the caricom consultations to light. if not for him we would still be looking to the PM with no response on the matter. This is what he did in 2014, but now this time is different. The real parasites are those who line up every wednesday to beg for hand outs. The real parasites are the cronies who wear red and praise inequity just so they themselves can ensure their daily bread, which in the end is just pittance. the real parasites are the ones who bleed our country’s assets and allow their new buddies to acquire prime resources in the “name of development” while locals cannot even get a plot of land to farm.
Follow the money. If the govt. thinks that they can make more money by taxing it t han arresting people, they may go for legalizing it.
All of those people that are sat there in the audience have good patience boy. The “GOVERNMENT” has already stated its position and stance on the whole weed issue. They’re NOT in that…! Even if marijuana had to fall from the heavens as rain they’d call it a curse….! Have a referendum on the issue and put this back & forth child’s-play to rest….
Blackmore, please get with the times. Stop viewing the World the way you would like it to be and deal with as is. Open your eyes man, your brainwashed way of thinking will cost this Party votes. Give it a rest already! Legalize it!
I must admit that that those on the government side were not ready for the consultation and as such, you could tell they were confused and showed their lack of knowledge on this very important subject. personally speaking judging by what the PM said during his meeting with visiting Dominicans on Nov. 4, one gets the impression that Mr. Skerrit seems more concerned about the economical aspect of it, than anything else. Going back to the vision of the DLP making people poor, so they could depend on them and pay them with a vote. As a result, they feel if they decriminalize cannabis people, especially farmers who lust their gains from the death of the banana industry world be put in a position where they would become financially independent and would no longer be dependent on the government and that the government is afraid of. After all, Skerrit did everything to ensure the death of bananas and Ross University you think he is going to push for medical cannabis put people to work?
Whether or not we as a nation chose to legalize it, we must take steps to decriminalize the use of pot.
You talking double talk bro. Obviously if you decriminalize ganja you legalize it. You smoke too much already and feel extra happy?
Not the same. Too often we look at the singer and not the song. Why attack a person if you disagree with what is said. Rum is legal, but it carries age discrimination. And you can be arrested for selling to minors or selling without a license. So toto knows what his talking about
Can you believe this ? Blackmore openly showed his not knowingness , no wonder . He did not name any Country, he is making the very same statements Mr Skerrit used to echo, the man is seeking a template after all the developments of Ganja the World over. To lead , one must know , Mr Blackmore seems not to .
Mr Bob Denis, many people are not knowledgeable about ganga, only that it is not good for you and that it is illegal. That is why there is a consultation. Because you know all the attributes of ganga maybe you can make a presentation in the form of a white paper and submit it to “Blackmore ” for consideration.
I do not see why you want to give him a hard time…..instead MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. This issue is not a Blackmore, Skerrit or DLP issue. This is a national, and by extension, a global issue, and what is decided is going to have a lasting effect on future generations.
I have my reservations on this. But for the time being…….Its use, trade, distribution or possession should not be a criminal offence, but it should be regulated like cigarettes, rum and other alcoholic drinks. And if used for medication, prescriptions should be available.
It should not be treated as a “dread only” thing either.
Follow fashion… you know it was those first world countries that banned it in the first place… you all are so blinded by their propaganda, for hundreds of years cannabis has been used medicinally and can be historically traced back hundreds of years, its use is nothing new… Of course anything you abuse can have negatives the substance along cannot be blamed the user is the problem….
I expect this ‘talks’ to continue for the next election and so on and so on
Talking about the research done and whether it is true or not LOL them jokers are playing tricks wake up DOMINICA
p.s. you know the United States Government has done and are continuing to do research on it for years and even has patents on its use medicinally and prescribes it to their own people!
Follow fashion… you know it was those first world countries that banned it in the first place… you all are so blinded by their propaganda, for hundreds of years cannabis has been used medicinally and can be historically traced back hundreds of years, its use is nothing new… Of course anything you abuse can have negatives the substance along cannot be blamed the user is the problem….
I expect this ‘talks’ to continue for the next election and so on and so on
Talking about the research done and whether it is true or not LOL them jokers are playing tricks wake up DOMINICA
p.s. you know the United States Government has done and are continuing to do research on it for years and even has patents on its use medicinally and prescribes it to their own people!