Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit has said he believes that Dominica should not allow the prosecution of individuals for small quantities of Cannabis [Marijuana].
He was addressing the first National Consultation on Cannabis held at the Goodwill Parish Hall on Friday.
“I believe fundamentally and ideologically, that we should not allow the prosecution of individuals for small quantities and having that on their record for their life time,” he stated. “I believe that is a thing we can deal with almost immediately as a nation towards the changing of the legislation in respect to that.”
Skerrit also believes that recognized Rastafarians who uses their herb as part of their ritual and religious processes should not be prosecuted.
“The issue of those who are recognized Rastafarians who use the herb as part of their ritual and religious processes, I believe that we can find consensus on these things to allow for the Rastafarian movement to properly, legally, without any fear of persecution or prosecution, to have access to this herb in a responsible manner,” Skerrit remarked.
He said more time for consultations is needed to discuss matters as it relates to cannabis.
“I think it is not a situation where the government is seeking to impose its like or dislikes on the society in respect to this matter,” he stated. “I believe once we get a sense there is consensus, there is an appreciation for the issues the government has the political will to take these matters to parliament and to effect necessary legislation to allow for these things to become operationalized.”
The national consultation on the use of Cannabis is the first of its kind to held in Dominica. It follows an announcement made Prime Minister Skerrit in his 2018 Independence Day address.
The decriminalization and legalization of the herb has been receiving increasing public attention and media attention in recent times.
Free Buju!!
Free Buju!!
Free Buju!!
Buju wasnt sent to prison for marijuana. Also he will be out early 2019.
I would go much further, but at least this step in the right direction is better than nothing.
first step in 360 degrees. watch them dilly dally. especially after elections.
All of a sudden trying to take credit for what Lennox been speaking about.Rastas dont let SKERRIT FOOL YOU ALL.ELECTION COMING SO THE DICATATOR IS DESPERATE.
So Lennox and many people were talking, So what prevented him and his gang from having a consultation . He could have demonstrations, gatherings, meetings, press conferences, attempted coup. He claim that he is an investigative reporter. So he could cover all the salient point and make a presentation, make a positive contribution, but true to character he can DO NOTHING. He only knows how to yap .
So the government want to DO SOMETHING because the status quo is not sustainable. So suddenly Linton and his mobsters want credit to make political points. Well credit like success is not a given.
This article is scant. Id like to hear of some of the comments made by persons and questions asked. What is some of the information presented by the guest speaker, Dr. Antoine of the CARICOM Marijuana Committee. What is the outcome of the consultation? will there be further consultations? How are we proceeding? or is this a done deal and they go back to Jamaica, Dominica is left to figure itself out and the people stay battling legalization on our own?
that consultation seems to have only been filled with government workers. I only see one or 2 or three people who are not government workers that may have an objective opinion and not one that is politically motivated or fearful of a loss of government job. The consultations are targetted towards the general public, not just goverment workers.
I agree. What they must prosecute for is de garbage bin bobol
Amen, “Too Late”, Thanks much for raising Amen. We have to keep Skerrit and his failed Corrupt Government and his failed blind irresponble supporters on their toes to remind them of the Bin Bobol and the Fertilizer Bobol. Which Labour Government minister was involved in the Fertilizer Bobol, was there not a conflict of interest involving, we understood his/her brother. When the Hon. Lennox Linton, (incoming Prime Minister (becomes Prime Minister to clean up Domininca and Skerrit’s mess and bool) and his decent UWP Team come into office we will clean up this mess and make Domininca clan and free of Bobol and corruption once again. Failed, inept Skerrit must Go…….Corrupt Labour must Go
PM looking for some votes
Skerrit you are too damn wicked and evil and I want you to know that the God I serve will deal with you very severely. You trying to hide behind legalizing a small portion of the herb to see if you can trick young voters but like we say to Satan, “You will not prevail”! I am very upset with you dragging the opposition before the courts for a story you know you LIED about and fabricated; You trying to put them in prison so you could stay in power. But Skerrit what you looking for there you will get it you know because God does not play.
DNO check your records and see how long i been on here saying a man should never go jail or be arrested for a lil marijuana for personal use. In addition it should be legal long. Mark you i dont smoke nor do any drugs. Our leaders have no vision and only react to events.
Before Lennox many people were talking about this issue, not only in Dominica but worldwide. Antigua, how long? Lennox can talk about a lot of things to try to raise his political profile and make himself relevant, but when it comes to doing he and his gang go M. I. A. every time.
Like the wise people say “the taste of the pudding is the eating”.
All good and well for marijuanna, but what we gonna do for the 14 year olds on the block smoking weed every night innstead of doing their homework cause the bigger boys on the block doing it?
put them in jail/ detain them until their parents come to pay the fine and collect them. clean up the blocks. allow folks to use in confined areas not openly and publicly in all public areas. The thing is once it is legalized, you will see a lot of nonsense at first, like fellas wanting to roll their big joints at restaurants and in offices and smoking any and everywhere. This should not be, at least until fully legalized. There must be some rule of law and decorum which doesnt allow smokers to infringe on the rights of non smokers, because if is one thing we know how to do is to overdo a good time. then cannabis will be the culprit. We need to be careful and serious about this if it has to work. the free up dont care laissez fait attitude will not work. Now we need to be responsible and show the rest of the public that everything they thought bad about the herb was wrong and that smokers can still use the herb and be respectable functioning citizens of a prosperous nation
Just legalize it. Legalization will get rid of the persecution, prosecution and high crime out of the equation, and open up opportunities for research, business ventures and the best part – not hiding to smoke a spliff (or part of it).
actually they should ban all forms of public smoking especially cigarettes and have it confined to private areas, homes etc or smoking lounges of certain businesses
This guy is so not smart! How much do you quantify as a small amount! Is the police going to patrol knowing what a small amount is according to your definition? Sense or non sense? I say non sense.
Mr Skerrit have this opportune moment to effect change and SOCIAL mis-givings, this should not be about voting or being DLP, it is much bigger. The time is now for aspiring Dominican biologist to step up their know how into using different strains of this NATURE herb for the benefit and up-liftment of their un-develope Nation State . The initiatives coming out of St vincent and Antigua, should be implemented in Dominica, Amnesty and clean records for all the Citizenry defiled by the State, we may be seeing a new DAWN in terms of Social change in the Caribbean.
Once the UK and USA say its legal and good then Dominica will say it’s legal and good. It’s that simple!
Independent my a$$!
There is a big misconception among Dominicans about this marijuana business.
And a lot of people are thinking that the marijuana industry is one like the banana industry where we will be open to plant , harvest and ship it out to US and EU on the open market. These countries already have more weed than us and they don’t need large open farms to plant it. So people get a grip and let’s go back to our traditional crops.
Marijuana is NOT the way out of poverty.
Mr PM,
The focus of this consultation should not be about legalizing Marijuana and the none criminalization of small amounts for personal/religious and/or medical use. It should be about taking advantage and getting the most benefits from the use of medical Marijuana and its by-products by putting policies and systems in place to do so.
This is where Dominica should and could benefit economically but no, you have already said that Legalization of Marijuana would not change the economy of Dominica and you are sticking to your point of view even though all research and facts point differently. We will be left out in the cold and dark by our OECS counterparts on this important economic driver.
More and more you are showing your government’s inability to bring Dominica out of the economic mess it has been and still is under your government.
It’s time for a change of Government!!!!!
Marijuana should be legalized island wide and grown for export, just ask Colorado how much money they are making selling marijuana? Millions of dollars. The smoking of marijuana will never be stopped, people will still find buy and smoke it, Some in law enforcement also smoke it too when out of the eyes of the public, what do you think happens to all the seized marijuana ? it is supposed to be destroyed by burning, Right Ralph………………… Politicians will never change the law, too much money is being made in the re-selling or smoking of seized marijuana.
Argghhhh…. Why we always so far behind. The country that made marijuanna illegal is profiting from its legal sale and distribution. Meanwhile we incarcerating young black people for a plant that grows naturally. Unless you talking legalisation don’t say nothing. If you pm do one thing for Dominica it would be to legalise marijuana.
If those who smoke do it at their home and go to bed after, it’s no problem.
But we all know, plenty oh them smoke and drive ; and death is around the corner, especially for innocent victims passing by !!!!!!!!
So please, do not allow it, simply for political demagocic reason
No pal, you are dead wrong. You need to read and listen, it’s the persecution and prosecution he is addressing in the article, not even the business aspect. Plain English 101. On your other concern, 39,000 people die from drunk driving in the U.S annualy, none from marijuana, yet alcohol is legal and it should remain legal. People should drink responsibly, but there will always be the idiot who drinks the whole bottle and/or never stops drinking.
They talking about marijuana not alcohol. Do your research alcohol drivers cause accidents, but smokers are slow that they couldn’t cause a vehicle accident even if they tried
Booze is way more dangerous than marijuana !!!
The reality is most countries in the Caribbean are waiting for the other two big dogs, UK and USA to join Canada, then you will hear all around the Caribbean that Marijuana is now legal. Millions of plants grow in the world, but one is singled out and declared illegal. It is not even a case where people are manufacturing marijuana, it is a plant that grows naturally. At a minimum, at this juncture, it should be decriminalized. Clogging up the courts and jails with marijuana users is absurd to the infinite degree. I hope common sense will prevail, but sometimes college degrees get in the way; hopefully, not on this topic.
“PM Skerrit says Dominica should not prosecute for small amounts of marijuana …” No exemption? Well, we firmly believe, like the latest guy who jump ship onto the corrupt labour Government, that Domininca should prosecute those who has and continue to abuse the limited resources of Domininca. We need to see prosecuted those who initiated this flagrant abuse of the sales of our passports in the past 18 years and with no account to us Domininca on our assests, the Domininca passport. We also need to have, if possible and if it is true the head of government , the Pm prosecute to answer questions of the Bin Bobol, and the Fertilizer Bobol and the conflict of interest in purchasing with the Brother of a sitting government Minister used to purchase the fertilizer Bobol scam. This is against the statutes and proceedures of the purchase of states items and its visible and transparency accounting of these items. Who broke this Protocal in purchasing these items? The minister of Finance &…
Stop 🛑 talking views expressed and % and do something constructive or contributing with your time. Do we need an opposition leader who does or say nothing positive. When the 🌞 sun shines he complains, when the rain ☔️ falls he throws a tantrum. Once anybody says the PM, it turns % off like JUMBEE see holy water 💧 💦. You are holding a seasonal position and cannot promote yourself to be an entrepreneur, yet, you want to hold the 👋 highest position in the land, but, you haven’t completed high school.
The rain falling is a natural phenomenon, the sun shining is a natural phenomenon, the rivers flowing is a natural phenomenon, the waves hitting our shores is a natural phenomenon but your clown above with no name is not a natural phenomenon, it is a disguise to hide yourself from the no-nonsense and silly thoughts of yours. Corruption in government is a fraud and you better go do something constructive and not wasting your Funky Time attempting to defend thievery and bobol by this corrupt Labour government, the theft of poor people, our tax money etc being abused daily by this corrupt inept Labour government you worship blindly. Go open your eyes get your bible and read of Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. Stop being that betrayal of Dominica and it`s people and stop hiding behind and protecting the Judas` you have in this government running our poor country corruptly and with devious behaviour. Skerrit must Go
We don’t take advise from you and others like you. You are not credible.
Been smoking that ….other thing again papa?
Soon to be promised before this election will be the forgiveness of sins.
PM Skerrit also said Ross University was not at fault and did NOTHING wrong.
PM Skerrit also referred to Aliereza Monfared as good gentleman that wanted to help Dominica.
PM Skerrit made that statement when he knew Monfared was a wanted fugitive.
PM Skerrit also said Dominica cannot afford an international airport
PM Skerrit also said Dominica DOES NOT need an opposition
PM Skerrit also said IF not CBI then what?
PM Skerrit also said Dominica is a hard place to develop
PM Skerrit also referred to a man that resigned from his office, according to the man himself because “In recent days allegations of serious inappropriate behavior have been made against me in the media and elsewhere which the public rightly is and has been most concerned about”. But PM Skerrit hailed that man as a “Hero” that has grown 10 ft.
PM Skerrit also says there is no law or constitution that can stop him from doing what he knows in his heart is wrong
So I don’t pay any mind to what PM Skerrit says
Wow. I like the way you pay Skerrit no mine.
Could you also give us a list of things he did also. Well because you know so much by not paying attention I know you have a long list of things Skerrit did that you are paying attention to.
Maybe You are not paying attention to Lennox . But can you give us a list of things Lennox DID. Keep in mind that you do not have to be in Government to DO something positive.
What should be the concern of this marijuana subject is the fact that some people are trying to get rich on the sale of the herb, which eventually provokes all sorts of crime –including murder–that is the situation that needs to go under concrete consideration before anything else is established.
“PM Skerrit says Dominica should not prosecute for small amounts of marijuana”
In Response: “Dominicans says that this Failed PM Skerrit and his corrupt failed Labour Government should be prosecuted severely for the high amounts of questionable misused of states funds at the expense of a small failing state economy. Lack of production, limited resources as most of our agricultural produce has failed under this corrupt Labour government headed by failed Skerrit, the worse Prime Minster Domininca will ever see with a bunch of eighteen (18) waste of time Odd ministers, eating up our limited resources just to hail out “We love our PM”, one who has failed us, not knowing what development is all about . Skerrit is a failure, a big disappointed, a waste of states resources on a man absent to the protocol and proceedures of socio-economic development, but has reduced our struggling people and families and youths to a state of begging. What an insult practised by this corrupt Labour…
And I thought it was Dr. Peters that was supposed to bein charge of this consultation. Wrong again! With Skerrit it is never a consultation but a dictation.
The difference is, UWP and forward thinking people are looking for the economic benefits of medical marijuana, especially in a green country like Dominican, where every seed that drops in our rich soil grows and taste much better than other countries, whether is tomatoes, bananas, dasheen and others. Skerrit on the other hand, cought with his pants down and, his vision of crippling people’s financial power so they could depend on him, chooses to deal with vote catching aspect of it by talking about legalizing a small portion so Rastafarians could use it for their religious practice. At the same time he is concerned about young people not being harmed by it as if he doesn’t know that some young people, even under age ten are Rastafarians and can legally use the small portion. Skerrit needs to man up and understand that if we can decriminalize it for medical purposes, we would kill three birds with one stone since, it would be legalized, use as medicine and create employment.
Good afternoon. Now we have hit the top of the slippery slope, and will gradually slide further and further down. This is the beginning of the end.
I share the same view. Legalize it!
What does Skerrit mean by a small amount?Why does he go to such an important forum so unprepared?Is he being deliberate?
Let me thank the opposition UWP for forcing this failed DLP regime to at least initiate a discussion on the topic.
Let me thank Leonard Pappy Baptiste for his exploits at fearlessly packing his yellow Toyota car outside of Police Headquarters and hollering to all and sundry that the herb should be legalised.ease don’t forget Pappy.
Again we are the last KarKarRat country to have such a discussion,and we will certainly not,under this Skerrit “cannot do” regime realise the giant potential of this herb.I listened for a fleeting moment to some of the uninformed,idiotic unprepared P
DLP MISLEADERS taking g pot shots at the opposition,instead of exploring the massive economic and medicional benefits of cannabis..Time to vote those idiots out!!!!
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must La
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
Skerrit will say and do anything for votes now…
i agree with pm 100%
is a waste of the courts and police time and tax payers money to prosecute persons for small quantity of ganja
“i agree with pm 100%……..is a waste of the courts and police time and tax payers money to prosecute persons for small quantity of Ganja….” Good ok, we see and read your points, so we know. Now why don’t you comment on the states funds that has been abused now for over 18years? Where have you been or u have just turned 18 years, then know not of how corrupt this Labour Government is. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. It seems it is one law for some and is “Love we love our PM”, why he has not been arrested or rather apprehended to answer questions for the Bin and Fertilizer Bobols, both he and his so called no good political associates. With poor mothers and families asked to assembly in the fish market at Financial Centre foyer entrance to be called upstairs for handouts and we guess to be told vote for me and my corrupt labour government. Is that what we the people are supporting and encouraging in Domininca from this political failed clown. Its an abuse…