The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Marijuana Committee did not have to complete their report as it is or was obvious what was the intent of the Prime Minister a long time ago…decriminalise and further expunge any criminal record for the use of small amounts of marijuana. Ex Asst Commissioner McCartney and Bishop Emeritus Simeon Hall really wasted a lot of time and probably money and now imagine after the Report was presented to the PM the Committee is going to test the opinion of the people? Why didn’t you do that from the beginning? Surveys I have seen 70% are against this.

Practice I believe from the Magistrates for some years when a person comes before them for the possession of small amounts of marijuana they are never remanded to Fox Hill - a fine and required to keep the peace and have to go to a drug treatment centre…never prison.

How many persons are today, Prime Minister, in Fox Hill for possession of small amounts of marijuana?

Expunging record? Yes, if you have a record hard to get a job….yes you burn the bridge to enter the US and most countries, but the Prime Minister forgets to tell us that the US has access to the Bahamas Criminal Records that is how we can travel to the US on a Police certificate…you really think the US is stupid that days before the expunging becomes law they will not download the then current record? Anyone who has applied for a US Visa knows under oath you have to say…I have not used drugs and I have not been charged and found guilty of a drug charge.

What the Prime Minister said on ZNS News was pure basic politics for the uneducated over the hill potential voter. PM looking for sliding vote for 2022.

As a retired medical practitioner he should know the damage the use of marijuana does to a young brain…even second hand smoke as does cigarette smoke, but with marijuana it affects the brain sort of an essential part of ones body.

Well another Bahamian generation ruined and cast to be drugees!

PAULA SMITH

Nassau,

January 22, 2020.