Caricom investiga sobre el estado del uso de la marihuana en los países de la comunidad
Representantes de la Comunidad del Caribe (Caricom), pidieron una mayor investigación para ajustar o flexibilizar el uso de la marihuana con fines religiosos, recreativos y médicos, refieren medios de prensa.
También solicitó un enfoque regional más coherente acerca del mismo tema, precisó el sitio digital guyanachronicle.
Destacó que una comisión reunió a científicos, médicos, jurídicos, especialistas de ciencias sociales y representante de la comunidad religiosa y de la juventud.
Opinó que el grupo respondió de esa manera a un reciente mandato de los Jefes de Gobierno de la organización quienes solicitaron pesquisas para aprobar o no un mayor consumo de la hierba en sus respectivos territorios.
Rememoró que la investigación fue demandada hace cerca de dos años por Antigua y Barbuda, Barbados, Belice, Mancomunidad de las Bahamas, Guyana, Montserrat, Saint Kitts y Nevis, San Vicente y las Granadinas y Suriname, precisó.
La comisión revisó información y datos secundarios relacionados con leyes que regulan uso y clasificación de la marihuana, y los hallazgos relacionados con investigaciones sobre el uso médico o medicinal de la mencionada planta, así como el impacto económico y social y sus implicaciones socio políticas para el Caribe.
Naciones del Caricom aprobaron recientemente reformas legales acerca del tema, publicó el diario jamaiquino JIS.
Añadió que el grupo no hizo aún recomendaciones para crear las condiciones legales y administrativas que deben aplicarse en caso de que se llegue a una reclasificación legal para el uso religioso, recreativo y médico de la marihuana.
CARICOM marijuana commission submits status report
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government’s mandate to investigate the issue of marijuana use in the Community has resulted in national consultations in nine countries of the Community, over the past two years.
These countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bahamas, Guyana, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname. Consultations in Dominica were cancelled because of Hurricane Maria.
A status report issued by the CARICOM Regional Marijuana Commission, appointed by CARICOM heads of government, indicates that the subject has emerged as an issue of social significance across the region.
“It embraces several complex dimensions, including the scientific, economic, social, religious and legal… and there [are] many commonalities in the discourse…” These include “… vital information and strong opinions about marijuana and its use, including strong lobbying for use for medical reasons from a group of persons living with disabilities and in wheelchairs…” the report states.
The report also states “just as many persons had important questions, wanted more information and education and looked to the Commission’s report to provide those answers”.
Some states in the Community have already initiated action on the issue; and in those states where decisions have already been taken to engage in law reform, the call for more public education and a more coherent regional approach was made.
The ten-person commission comprising experts in the scientific, medical, legal and social science fields, as well as a representative each from the religious community and youth were required by heads to “conduct a rigorous enquiry into the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the Caribbean and to determine whether there should be a change in the current drug classification of marijuana, thereby making the drug more accessible for all types of usage (religious, recreational, medical and research)”.
The Commission was also required to recommend the legal and administrative conditions to be applied should there be reclassification.
The Commission has been reviewing information and secondary data pertaining to marijuana laws/legislation regulating its use and classification, findings related to research conducted on the medical/medicinal use of marijuana, the economic and social impact and its implications for the region.
In addition, the CARICOM Secretariat, working with the various ministries of foreign affairs, has facilitated national consultations with the Regional Marijuana Commission. These consultations have been conducted through focus groups and public town hall meetings.
Focus groups included representatives from the National Drug Councils, or their equivalents, law enforcement personnel, in and out of school youth and organizations and entities that work with, faith-based organizations and special interests groups such as researchers, medical practitioners, non-government organisations, practitioners of alternative medicine and advocates for medicinal use of marijuana.
Information gathering is ongoing. To this end, data are being collected from adolescents and youth with the assistance of Directors of National Drug Councils regionally and through social media survey.
The Commission invites the public, researchers and other interested persons to submit written material on marijuana for use in its work. Please send information to marijuana@caricom.org. A special website is set up for the initiative and can be accessed at www.caricom.org/marijuana-commission.
The Regional Marijuana Commission is expected to present its findings and recommendations to the 39th regular meeting of CARICOM heads of government scheduled for the first week of July 2018 in Jamaica.
ABOUT THE COMMISSION
The Regional Commission on Marijuana was established by the decision of the Twenty-fifth Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government , in March 2014 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Heads “mandated the establishment of a Regional Commission to address the issues identified and any other deemed relevant in order to provide clear guidance to the Conference with regard to decisions to be taken.
The Commission, headed by Prof. Rose-Marie-Bell Antoine, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, is composed of practitioners with expert knowledge in a variety of disciplines including medicine and allied health, health research, law enforcement, ethics, education, anthropology/sociology/ culture.
