Bi-partisan support for misuse of drug amendment bill

Posted: Friday, October 20, 2017. 2:10 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma: This afternoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Sedi Elrington introduced the amendment to the misuse of the drug use bill in the national assembly.

The bill is to “decriminalize the possession of cannabis in amounts not exceeding ten grams, to provide for the imposition of monetary and non-recordable penalties for the possession of cannabis in such amounts occurring on school premises, in specified circumstances, and to decriminalize the smoking of cannabis on private premises.”

The bill went through its second reading today.

Opposition Leader, John Briceno supported the bill stating that after assessing the different arguments pro and against the bill, his party is in support of the amendment to the bill.

Freetown area representative, and former opposition leader, Francis Fonseca also expressed his support for the bill but clarified that the bill is for the decriminalization of 10 grams of marijuana, not the legalization of marijuana, and that he is in no way supporting the smoking of marijuana.

Minister of State with responsibility for Police, Elodio Aragon thanked the opposition for their bipartisan support for the bill and then explained that the bill has provisions for people to be criminally charged if they are found with cannabis at any educational institution.

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