Crece en Caricom el debate por la despenalización de la marihuana

Call to legalise ganja resonates with CARICOM leaders

In the words of the late Bob Marley, “Excuse me while I light my spliff … every little thing is gonna be alright.” That’s if and when the law allows it, of course.

But it seems there’s a new urge for legal ganja in the Caribbean these days. The Trinidad and Tobago Chief Justice Ivor Archie wants it, and apparently Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders want it, with a conversation beginning this week about legalising the use of small portions of marijuana.

During his speech at the opening of the law term on Monday, Chief Justice Archie called for the decriminalisation of the use of inconsequential amounts of marijuana. He says it is a sure way of helping to unclog the criminal justice system in Trinidad and Tobago. The backlog of cases has been a major bother to the country’s judiciary for many years now.

Trinidad and Tobago’s acting commissioner of police Stephen Williams tol