Call to decriminalise and legalise marijuana

High Priest Imsley Payne of zion speaks at the media conference hosted by the All Mansion of Rastafari (AMOR) to discussion issues surrounding the decriminalisation of cannabis in TT. PHOTO BY ROGER JACOB.

Attorney and member of the All Mansions of Rastafari (AMOR) Jessse Daniel said it was not enough to decriminalise marijuana, but it should also be legalised. Speaking yesterday during a news conference at AMOR's headquarters at Sea Trace, Diego Martin, Daniel said a directive should be issued towards law enforcement officers not to arrest and charge people for small quantities of marijuana until the law was amended.

He said charging people for possession of marijuana for personal use only clogged the courts and was a waste of manpower. He said allowing people to carry a small amount of the herb would give the police more time and space to go after the hardened criminals.

AMOR is also asking for the expunging of the records of all those who have been convicted of marijuana related offences and served their sentences. AMOR also supports the Caricom Marijuana Report recommendation that special concessions be given to small farmers and businesses to be included in the marijuana industry.