Welcome to Bahamas Local, Your Bahamas Online Search Engine

Rastas reject cannabis law draft

Wed, May 26th 2021, 08:40 AM
Business Disputes Tribune Stories

A LOCAL Rastafarian leader has said draft marijuana legislation in the public domain is "unclear" and "repressive" and does not benefit Rastafarians or any Bahamian citizen.

Rithmond McKinney, high priest of the local Rastafarian Bobo Shanti Tribe, raised issues with the proposed law changes yesterday.
#Mr McKinney, who also serves as the royal ambassador for the Ethiopian African Black International Congress, spoke to The Tribune from the Rastafarian camp off Fire Trail Road as they celebrated African Liberation Day.
#“In The Bahamas as we celebrate this historical day, the Rastafarian community is still in a fight just to be seen as equals in our Bahamaland as we are still fighting for our fundamental human rights,” he said.
#“With the present government about to table the new Medical Cannabis Bill 2021, the injustices our communities have faced for over 50 years still exist. We are bluntly trampled on by this unclear repressive bill that’s not designed to benefit not just the Rastafarian community, but the wider Bahamas.”
#He has publicly called for Rastafarians to be a part of the marijuana industry when made legal, as they have suffered the most because of the popular herb. He was disappointed by the government’s delay in bringing the proposed bill to Parliament and even moreso that there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for Rastafarians to freely smoke marijuana as a religious sacrament.
#“The (proposed) amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2021 will now take from a magistrate sentence options to a now mandatory fines sentencing guidelines,” he continued. “These things are just the tip of the iceberg of injustice. These two bills and amendments will further place injustice on the poor and have-nots of our community and society at large.”
#He said “freedom and justice” are the cries of the Rastafarian man. Even as they celebrate African Liberation Day, it is a known fact many Rastafarian men have police records, having been charged with possession of dangerous drugs when found with marijuana joints.
#The Tribune has previously reported people who are caught with two ounces of cannabis or less would face a fixed penalty of $500 if a draft amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act, which circulated last week, becomes law.

Rithmond McKinney, high priest of the local Rastafarian Bobo Shanti Tribe, raised issues with the proposed law changes yesterday.

Mr McKinney, who also serves as the royal ambassador for the Ethiopian African Black International Congress, spoke to The Tribune from the Rastafarian camp off Fire Trail Road as they celebrated African Liberation Day.

“In The Bahamas as we celebrate this historical day, the Rastafarian community is still in a fight just to be seen as equals in our Bahamaland as we are still fighting for our fundamental human rights,” he said.

“With the present government about to table the new Medical Cannabis Bill 2021, the injustices our communities have faced for over 50 years still exist. We are bluntly trampled on by this unclear repressive bill that’s not designed to benefit not just the Rastafarian community, but the wider Bahamas.”

He has publicly called for Rastafarians to be a part of the marijuana industry when made legal, as they have suffered the most because of the popular herb. He was disappointed by the government’s delay in bringing the proposed bill to Parliament and even moreso that there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for Rastafarians to freely smoke marijuana as a religious sacrament.

“The (proposed) amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2021 will now take from a magistrate sentence options to a now mandatory fines sentencing guidelines,” he continued. “These things are just the tip of the iceberg of injustice. These two bills and amendments will further place injustice on the poor and have-nots of our community and society at large.”

He said “freedom and justice” are the cries of the Rastafarian man. Even as they celebrate African Liberation Day, it is a known fact many Rastafarian men have police records, having been charged with possession of dangerous drugs when found with marijuana joints.

The Tribune has previously reported people who are caught with two ounces of cannabis or less would face a fixed penalty of $500 if a draft amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act, which circulated last week, becomes law.

 

Click here to read more at The Tribune

 Sponsored Ads