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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
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Bahamas decriminalizes cannabis for medical and religious purposes
#28449222 - 08/27/23 11:33 PM (8 months, 17 days ago) |
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Bahamas passes law to decriminalize cannabis for medical and religious purposes August 28, 2023 - GoaSpotlight
The Government of The Bahamas has proposed a collection of bills aimed at decriminalizing cannabis for use in medical, religious and scientific research, thereby transforming its consumption from a strictly illegal activity into a regulated industry.
Bahamian media reported on Friday that a total of 11 pieces of legislation, with the Cannabis Bill of 2023 as the centerpiece, will establish a framework for local cannabis production to meet medical needs, create economic opportunity and regulate the industry.
The proposal states that doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis to relieve pain and suffering from specific diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
“There are many Bahamians, some of whom suffer from diseases such as terminal cancer and various forms of depression, who do not respond to clinical therapy and post-traumatic stress,” said Health and Welfare Secretary Michael Darvill.
The head of the Ministry of Health explained that these people travel abroad to access these treatments and contact the ministry to bring the product into the country.
“The time has come to remove cannabis from the Dangerous Drugs Act and make it a controlled substance so it can be grown in the Bahamas,” he stressed.
In addition, the legislation provides for the use of cannabis by Rastafarians for religious purposes under a special license, but will not be allowed for recreational use.
One important proposal is to decriminalize the possession of small amounts (less than 30 grams) of cannabis. The $250 fines will still apply but will not contribute to a criminal record if paid on time.
The Cannabis Bill 2023 aims to create the Bahamas Cannabis Authority, which will be responsible for controlling access to the substance, legal production, and medical, scientific and religious administration.
Bahamas Attorney General Ryan Pinder recalled that the law would be violated if, among other things, cannabis was purchased for recreational purposes or sold and imported without a license.
Public consultations on the bill will take place next month before it is presented to Parliament, where it is expected to be debated before the end of the year.
The Bahamas will join other Caribbean countries in this legislation that have relaxed their cannabis laws, such as Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica.
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Dave Bowman
Albert Hoffmans Apprentice




Registered: 08/30/07
Posts: 2,126
Loc: Your Imagination
Last seen: 1 month, 12 days
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Re: Bahamas decriminalizes cannabis for medical and religious purposes [Re: veggie]
#28449403 - 08/28/23 06:38 AM (8 months, 17 days ago) |
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Cool to see cannabis being more accepted all over the place.
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Ps.NoName
Psilocybe Anonymous


Registered: 08/03/18
Posts: 945
Last seen: 2 hours, 4 minutes
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Re: Bahamas decriminalizes cannabis for medical and religious purposes [Re: Dave Bowman] 1
#28449775 - 08/28/23 11:38 AM (8 months, 16 days ago) |
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I wonder what happens to a tourist caught with less than 30g, pay the fee to the cop? Many cruise ships are registered out of the bahamas. That would be nice if they would let people on with medical. Probably not unless every port is legal... and they want to sell booze.
-------------------- Set me off, see what I'm worth. Turn me on, I go berserk.
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