While every segment of the Bahamian society uses cannabis, and cannabis products - it is typically only one segment of our society that shows up in the courts of The Bahamas to face charges for it. It is unfair. It is indefensible. It runs counter to any notion of social justice
THE BAHAMAS: THE CASE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
By Marlon Johnson
Nassau, N.P.,
The Bahamas
To my mind, the most important element of the recent change to the cannabis laws was not the authorization of medical marijuana, nor the ability to grow marijuana here. In fact, it will be a challenge for any marijuana farm to be profitable at scale as there is no export market in which we can compete.
The most important change to me were the provisions that reduce penalties for small scale possession and consumption. For reasons that have not been explained, these provisions have yet to to be brought into force.
The continued prosecution of these cases disproportionately impacts young poor Bahamian men - as these cases always have.
We are giving criminal records to these young men often from disadvantaged backgrounds for having and consuming a mild intoxicant - and substantially hindering their employability and life prospects for absolutely no good reason.
C'mon Bahamas, let's fix this right away and bring into effect those passages of the law which reduce the offenses for small possession and consumption down to the prescribed fixed penalties.
And then, let's further agitate to eventually eliminate those fixed penalties for adult consumption. The prohibition on cannabis simply has not worked.
In real dollar terms, cannabis is cheaper now than it ever has been and more easily available and accessible. Everybody who wants to smoke marijuana can find it and afford it.
Of course, while every segment of our society uses cannabis products, it is typically only one segment of our society that shows up in courts to face charges for it. It is unfair. It is indefensible. It runs counter to any notion of social justice.
