The Anguilla Progressive Movement Government is now pursuing a campaign promise, regarding the limited use of marijuana, to provide some easement for persons from the rigours of the criminal justice system.
The island’s Minister of Social Development and Education, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, has disclosed that the Government is exploring the possibility of legalizing the use of small amounts of the drug. She in fact says that the Executive Council has approved a policy to that effect as a precursor to the necessary draft legislation.
Speaking on the radio program, “Talk Anguilla”, by Keithstone Greaves, the Minister said on Wednesday, November 25:
“We have just approved the policy in the Executive Council for the approval of the decriminalization of marijuana. We are now moving towards the drafting of the legislation which will provide the teeth to the decriminalization policy. It is an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act to ensure that those persons who use marijuana are not taken straight to the criminal justice system.”
She added: “I must make a caveat because I know that some persons will say marijuana is free for everybody to use as much as they can. That is not what decriminalization does. It is the removal of the sanction up to a threshold amount. It is a very important threshold that applies. If you are found with over the…
