Top officials in the Bahamas have announced a legislative package that would legalize marijuana for medical, religious and research purposes. Personal possession of small amounts of cannabis would also be decriminalized, and past convictions for simple possession would be expunged.
Together, the suite of bills would establish a local framework for marijuana production and, according to the government, “ensure a well-regulated, safe and controlled cannabis industry.”
Attorney General Ryan Pinder and Health and Wellness Minister Michael Darville announced the proposed reforms during the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly press briefing on Thursday.
Pinder said he’d like to have the bills in Parliament by October.
“The goal would be to debate them by the end of this calendar year, because there is a lot of work that has to go into setting up the authority,” he said. “There is training, certifications, the digital platform for tracing and prescriptions and all of that has to be done before the licenses are issued.”
If passed, doctors in the Bahamas would be able to recommend cannabis for specific conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
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