BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH law enforcement officers consistently reporting the uprooting of large quantities of marijuana plants both on St. Kitts and Nevis, Opposition Leader Dr. the Rt. Hon. Denzil Douglas thinks it is time for a national conversation on the matter of having it legalized.
Over the last 12 months, many have called on the government to give legitimacy to marijuana use in the Federation, both for recreational and medicinal purposes.
Dr. Douglas responding to a caller’s question while on radio station KYSS FM’s “Ask the Leader”, noted that ‘herb’ is currently being planted in relatively large quantities in St. Kitts-Nevis, and are being constantly uprooted.
He pointed to the number of releases and statements from the Police Force when the RSS team was in the Federation.
“The government and the Police informed us of that situation when recently the RSS came into the country, it would appear, to assist in tackling serious crimes and were known to have gotten engaged seriously in the uprooting of marijuana plants from across the landscape of our country.”
Giving his view, Dr. Douglas said believes that the time has come for the topic ventilated at a national forum.
“I am one of those, who, continue to speak on behalf of our party. And say that we must get into serious dialogue and debate as to what is going to be the national response, to what has become an explosive marijuana/ganja herb plant here in St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said.
However, Dr. Douglas, who was the Minister of National Security during most of his stint as Prime Minister of the Federation, quickly reminded that it is still a criminal offense to plant, trade or supply marijuana.
But the outspoken Opposition Leader contends that though there are existing laws against its use in St. Kitts and Nevis, a shift in policy has taken place in the region and a number of countries internationally.
“...We are aware of what is happening not only in other Caribbean countries with regards to this matter but what is happening in the leading democracy of the world - in the United States of America. We know that several states within the USA have legalized the use of marijuana and the planting of marijuana under conditions.”
Though not giving an exact position on the topic, Dr. Douglas noted that even countries within Europe have liberalized the use of ‘the herb’ for “medicinal purposes and limitedly for recreational purposes”.
While Dr. Douglas functioned as Prime Minister of the Federation, numerous calls were made for him to facilitate national discourse on the decriminalization of marijuana.
Under the Dr. Timothy Harris-led administration, the calls continue to be made. And in addressing that question at a town hall meeting last year, Dr. Harris indicated that consultations must be had before any changes to the laws of the land can be.
