According to the Guyana Drug Information Network (GUYDIN) 2019 report, in 2018, of the 38 persons convicted for possession of narcotics, 14 – more than one-third – were convicted for marijuana possession.  This continues an annual trend where the majority of criminal narcotic convictions continue to be marijuana related, even as the rest of the world – including the Caribbean – is moving towards good sense legislation on cannabis.

Every year that marijuana continues to be criminalised three things continue.  The first is the perpetuation of a gross social injustice.  Marijuana criminalisation disproportionately criminalises poor people and young people and opens them to exploitation, even as marijuana use also extends to the privileged.  As Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, said about his decision to decriminalise marijuana, “Marijuana had been legal for the upper class for a long time.  The privileged elite has been smoking marijuana for a long time, any change now is to free up poor people from an unnecessary jail… It’s a social justice issue.”  The same situation applies in Guyana – what is absent here has been the courage and integrity of leadership to address this.  Both major parties have refused to consider decriminalisation, proposing instead ‘alternative sentencing’, a tepid half-measure that also benefits the rich and connected and disadvantages the poor.

The second thing that continues is the criminalisation of the cultural rights of a cultural/religious group in Guyana, the Rastafarian community– marijuana consumption is a Rastafarian religious practice with equal value to Catholic communion for example.  In the celebration of our diversity, we cannot criminalise cultural traditions and practices without a clear, logical, evidence-based reason for doing so.

Finally, the continued categorical inclusion of cannabis under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control)(Amendment) Act 1988 does not only criminalise marijuana but in doing so also criminalises hemp a strain of cannabis that has been used historically in fabrics production but for which increasing uses are being found ranging from food, bioplastics, construction material and fuel.  What this means that at a time when Guyana is supposed to be diversifying its economy (See Pillar 2), a significant new revenue stream is being cut off.

The continued criminalisation of cannabis is an idea that is outdated, discriminatory and illogical.  There is no excuse for its continuation which is why in our first year in the National Assembly our stance on marijuana decriminalisation is non-negotiable.

Our plan has three phases:

*    Decriminalisation of marijuana consumption which means an automatic pardon for the people currently in prison.

*    Regularisation of dispensation including licensing for personal consumption, medical use and distribution.

*   Support over the long term of the commercial production of marijuana or local consumption and potential export.