A bill which will allow residents to possess and use small quantities of marijuana will go before parliament on December 12th, 2017, for the first time.
According to the country’s latest Cabinet notes, the Marijuana Bill will be read a first time and distributed, when parliament convenes in just 19 days.
The bill focuses on decriminalising up to five grams of marijuana, eliminating fines associated with the currently illegal drug.
The government is hoping that by passing the Marijuana Bill, it will lessen, what it termed ‘the expensive’ costs associated with pursuing convictions and prosecuting people who were caught with small amounts of the drug.
The Gaston Browne led administration is also hoping that the passage of this bill will prevent young people in particular, from obtaining criminal records that often make it difficult for them to secure employment or acquire travel visas.
It was in 2016, that the Minister responsible for Information and Telecommunication, Melford Nicholas first announced that the draft bill would be sent to parliament for the first reading.
Other bills to be brought before parliament on December 12th include the Telecommunications Bill and a resolution that would make legal, a waiver of $101,000,000 in Antigua & Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) for the Sandals Grande Resort Antigua.
