Marijuana report hits new delay

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS National Commission on Marijuana has requested another deadline extension, but hopes this time a report can be submitted before the end of November.

According to Quinn McCartney, commission co-chair, the delay is a result of a “late” trip to Jamaica and officials also organising a visit to Canada.

While the trip to Canada is in November, Mr McCartney said the commission will not delay past that month, even if it means submitting a preliminary report that has to later be supported by a supplemental report.

The group was initially expected to hand over a report with its findings in April, but received extensions, ultimately placing the new timeline at October 31.

Mr McCartney said yesterday: “Because of our late trip to Jamaica, and we are still organising and trying to make our trip to Canada, not that it will hold up the report but we just think it would be advantageous to make that trip.

“We wanted to do the trip to Jamaica definitely because it’s in the region because the laws are similar to ours and because of what they’ve done. We definitely wanted to make that trip so that was done in early October and so we wanted to do that.

“So having come back and done that, that’s going to delay us a bit, but we are also trying to organise a trip to Canada.

“We wanted to do that trip to Canada because again it’s in certainly in North America (and) it’s the first country to do it federally in the western hemisphere and so we wanted to just see how they went about the process.”

He continued: “So that will definitely cause us to (ask for extension). We have spoken to the minister and we certainly are asking for a slight delay beyond the October deadline.

“We are certainly not trying to let this go beyond November for sure and even if we just have to give a preliminary report and come back with a supplemental report at a later date.

“So let’s just say Canada doesn’t come off until like mid-November, we won’t delay because of the trip to Canada.”

Mr McCartney said following the trip to Jamaica, there are some elements of marijuana decriminalisation implemented there that the commission does support.

However, when the report is submitted, they hope it adequately reflects the views of Bahamians while providing recommendations that work in the best interest of the country.

“The main mission of our commission was to find out the views of the Bahamian public. Although we have not been as comprehensive as we would have liked in touching more people, we certainly had town hall meetings, a few stakeholder meetings and we’ve done walkabouts in several communities trying to gather the feel.

“There seems to be a consensus toward some of the things that they have done in Jamaica and so what we want to do is reflect what the Bahamian public wants but give our recommendations in terms of research based on best practises.

“So it’ll certainly outline what members of the public feel but look at what’s happening in other jurisdictions. We want to provide recommendations in the best interest of the public.

“We will give the positives and negatives. We won’t lean in any particular direction. At this stage we are stressing and trying to get all the pieces together,” Mr McCartney said yesterday.

Comments

proudloudandfnm says...

Of for the love of God just legalize it already...

Trips to Jamaica and Canada? Stop wasting our money and just do it already, you don't need to go on vacations just do it....

Posted 29 October 2019, 7:20 a.m. Suggest removal

yeahyasee says...

LOL are any reports handed in on time?

Posted 29 October 2019, 9:27 a.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

They need more time for trying it out.

Posted 29 October 2019, 8:54 a.m. Suggest removal

B_I_D___ says...

They smoking it more than they are debating it!!

Posted 29 October 2019, 10:53 a.m. Suggest removal

Dawes says...

Of course it hit a delay, nothing done in this country is done on time. Just added waste and time on a report that Government already knows it won't act on. They will be able to file it away in the draw with all the other reports they have been given to make this country better but choose not to listen to as they can't seem to work out how to make it benefit them even more.

Posted 29 October 2019, 11:10 a.m. Suggest removal

sealice says...

They smoking too much and keep forgetting WTF dey posed to be doing??

Posted 29 October 2019, 12:08 p.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

LOL! ROFL! LOL!

Posted 29 October 2019, 3:16 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Not doubting good intentions cannabis's comrade co-chair Quinn but the government keeps appointing individuals who are clueless about the task that they were appointed deal with, yes, no ... and it's even worse when people are placed there for all the wrong political reasons ....

Posted 29 October 2019, 3:57 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

So the report might have a delay. It was supposed to be submitted in April, but then we wanted to go to Canada and we really wanted to go to Jamaica - so that might pose some minor delay - but not a real delay because we could do a preliminary report and then have a supplemental report, but we really need to get down to Jamaica. We have been walking the streets and asking the people their opinions and we tried to get some town halls put together - but well, actually we had some town halls - but we need more consultation with the people. If we could have gotten down to Jamaica (but that was delayed), they have certain info that they know about how this can be correctly implemented. Canada, yes, but the people we are meeting with are helping. We are planning to go to Jamaica, and a request has been submitted for that. There are other viewpoints that we are exploring - to have a comprehensive report, but it might be thoroughly comprehensive. Jamaica is where the real information is, and we are trying to get there. So it will all come together in short order, not much delay. Did I mention Jamaica?

Posted 29 October 2019, 7:11 p.m. Suggest removal

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