Trinidad and Tobago proposes to decriminalize, establish Cannabis Economy

In Trinidad and Tobago's House of Representatives last week, two bills were proposed that could transform the landscape of marijuana regulation across the various islands that make up the Caribbean country.

On Friday, the Attorney General Faris Al Rawi introduced the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill and Cannabis, Control Bill. The legislation aims to decrease penalties for possession and consumption and fire up a legal trade.

The Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill would permit people to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis or 5 grams of cannabis resin without suffering legal trials. Possession up to 60 grams or 10 grams of resin would indicate a fixed fine of $739 without arrest, punishment or confinement.

The Cannabis Control Bill would install a national Cannabis Authority that can give licenses for processors, cultivators, Laboratories, retail distributors, transporter and importers.

The attorney general told Parliament that Trinidad and Tobago could preserve up to $100 million by stopping cannabis prohibition, saving the avoidable costs of cannabis-related confinement and legal hours.

Amid 2010 to 2018, 3,429 individuals were detained in prison for cannabis-related charges in the Caribbean nation, with average spendings of $2,217.25 to $2,956.34 per month per person, according to a CannabisWire report.

The introduced legislation would also permit residents to grow up to four cannabis plants at home but only allows for male plants, which do not produce THC— the active compound that produces a psychoactive effect.

This part legislation has influenced activists to promote changes in the bill and push for full legalization of the plant.

Attorney General Al-Wari said the bills are assumed to pass the House floor, which is held in majority by the People's National Movement party.