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pugboy wrote:correct but the main question thinking forward is what are those low lever dealers/block boys going to do after ?
we know they not going to go back to school or look for meaningful jobs
pugboy wrote:I was not being sarcastic
in all countries that have legalized weed the price dropped dramatically, google and see
simple economics of supply and demand
the high price of an illegal goods is based on the demand, supply as well as the risk required to be in that business(not get caught)
2 out of those 3 parameters will be no more so go figure....
cartels will join business on the public floor so all them block boys who were middlemen now have nothing to do...
bluesclues wrote:pugboy wrote:I was not being sarcastic
in all countries that have legalized weed the price dropped dramatically, google and see
simple economics of supply and demand
the high price of an illegal goods is based on the demand, supply as well as the risk required to be in that business(not get caught)
2 out of those 3 parameters will be no more so go figure....
cartels will join business on the public floor so all them block boys who were middlemen now have nothing to do...
How many years experience u have picking, cleaning, grinding and rolling weed? Same fellas can now go and work for a legitimate brick and mortar supplier. The important thing to note is that once its legal, ppl will have the law to deal with theft and fraud in weed business. So they wont have any need for a gun to sell weed because u could always just report a robbery and let the police go find the suspect, charge him and gih yuh back yuh weed. The lack of legal recourse for theft gives rise to the whole violent message sending gun toting requirements. If u get what im saying.
pugboy wrote:yep, them boys will turn a new leaf and get accustomed to an honest 8hour day work like the rest of us
Government has begun statistical groundwork for decriminalising of marijuana possession, says Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi. He told the T&T Guardian he is reviewing the Dangerous Drugs Act and wide consultation is planned before any policy decision is taken.
“There has been a full exercise of analysing the types of crime in our prisons and the pre-trials detention or remand statistics for a range of offences, including possession of narcotics, and particlarly possession of cannabis. From that perspective there’s certainly a drive to gather statistical information,as the issue of decriminalising of marijuana isn’t a simple one on the public side,” the AG said.
“If one were to argue for decriminalisation, the limits to be applied must be considered. Does one wish to have a bus driver or teacher who’s in the course of using narcotics, although decriminalised, on the job? That’s one set of societal factors to consider. On the other hand, is it right to engage in pre- trial detention in remand for two joints of marijuana where your detention is by far longer than the conviction you can have?
“So obviously it involves proper consultation after gathering of statistical information so that when the issue is brought to the public’s attention, it must be brought with facts, statistics, extrapolation on statistics, androecial impact consideration as Trinidad and Tobago is a multi-dimensional society. There are, for instance, the views of religious bodies and civil society groups that have to be factored against any decision like this.”
Al-Rawi said Government is “obliged to take a very holistic approach to agitating the issue.”
He explained: “We have to consider it as it applies across the board, be it in the criminal justice system, in the social factors associated with people detained for narcotic use of a small quantity and the societal message you send to your young, aged or your disadvantaged.
“So that kind of exercise is what we’re engaged in and we’ll certainly not shy away from issues but embrace then in a comprehensive, responsible fashion. After full consultation, a policy decision will be taken and the requisite instruction to attenuate—reduce the force of—the laws or draft new laws, will then be taken.”
Specifically confirming that Government has started the groundwork to decriminalise marijuana, the AG said: “Definitely the statistical approach being taken in the consultation on the prison analysis is one of those springboards into that venture,
“As an enabler of laws I must accept the views of several interest sectors. When one hears the judiciary, Caricom leaders, states that have gone that way and several sectoral interest groups speak to the need for decriminalisation, those aren’t soft voices which haven’t thought about issues.”
Al-Rawi said it was important top think progressively we well as responsibly so thay laws are based on policy driven upon analysis with statistics, factual information and consultation.
“So we’re gathering the statistical information. Very much so,” he said.
“And the exercise is being done and whatever the result, we’ll certainly engage with some transparency on the issue of analysis and also transparency of any advocacy that the government chooses after consultation on the position.”
After that, he added, there will be a policy consideration. He agreed it cannot be an overnight process “because societal impact has to be considered,”
Al Rawi said marijuana decriminalisation isn’t necessarily a novel thing since T&T’s Customs law lists where duties are applied to import and export of ganja. He added that he isn’t ducking any issues.
The lobby to decriminalise marijuana has been gaining momentum in the last few years with various quarters, including the judiciary, bidding to free up security and other resources to deal with other pressing matters Chief Justice Ivor Archie alluded to the move when he addressed the opening of the 2013-2014 law term and Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard has supported decriminalisation..
Cautious responses on legalising ganja
Pro-decriminalisation quarters believe legalising marijuana can assist T&T’s overburdened justice/security systems. The Caribbean Collective for Justice claims Caricom’s report on decriminalisation recommended a marijuana industry for medicinal purposes be developed selecting plants grown for cannabinoids; that the removal of incarceration as a penalty for marijuana possession be considered in light of the number of young people arrested for the offence regionally; and that leaders “explore any commercial benefit from a potential multi-billion dollar industry including research, development and production of medicinal marijuana products.”
Reached for comment, Opposition MP Prakash Ramadhar, who held in the portfolio of Legal Affairs in the last PP administration said: “One has to be careful with this since not everyone is the same. I feel we cannot close our eyes to successes in the medical marijuana aspect or use in treatment of some cancers or for pain but one has to be careful in experimenting. It may be beneficial for one, or harmful to another.”
President of the Law Association Reginald Armour said: “If the matter comes up, we’d certainly examine it...”
Colin Stephenson, who has been actively lobbying for decriminalisation of marijuana said he spoke with Al-Raw at the recent prison reform consultation and is “awaiting word on a proposed moratorium on arrests for possession of small quantities."
bluesclues wrote:Wit will just be another commodity legally traded in daylight business. The violent crime prestige it attracts is only because its illegal. When a man rob yuh rum shop, u don't call your mafia henchmen for him, u call d police. Yet once upon a time when alcohol was made illegal it gave rise to the mob. And yes yuh would get kill for tiefin rum from a mob seller. So case in point, legalize it, and it will no longer have a gang association because as it is now the majority ppl who have smoked marijuana or smoke, not in no gang.
U see they does have no choice. A man rob yuh block... u can't exactly go to the police and say someone thief yuh weed. Hence you have to mete out yuh own justice to get it back. Take away that need and ull also remove the cover block robbers use to rob men of their weed. But in the absence of any legal framework, the illegal trade will naturally structure a justice system to survive on.
.legalise it, export as a drug globally, and as hemp.
give people licences to grow/sell.
a disagree dat gangs will go postal... heroin transshipment and coke and even E are more profitable
pete wrote:SMH..
“We have been in office for seven months and we spent no time examining the decriminalization of marijuana," Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley stated on Monday morning, hours after a front page headline "AG looks at legal ganja,” set tongues wagging.
He was speaking at a news conference at Piarco International Airport, just before he departed T&T for a 12 day visit to Washington, New York, London and Ghana.
"I lead the cabinet and I don’t know that any such examination is taking place. I’ve seen the headline, I haven’t read the story but I’m pretty sure the Attorney General will really want to explain that and I would be very surprised if that is what he said,” the PM said in response to questions from reporters.
Attorney General Faris Al Rawi is quoted in the Trinidad Guardian as saying “There has been a full exercise of analyzing the type of crimes in our prisons and the pre-trial detention or remand statistics for a range of offense, including possession of narcotics and particularly possession of cannabis. From that perspective, there is certainly a drive to gather statistical information as the issue of decriminalization of marijuana, is not a simple one on the public’s side.”
On Monday morning, the AG stood by his comments: "There is a real consideration that our jails contain people with simple possession issues, marijuana in particular,” which he noted, is a live issue for the judiciary, the DPP and the AG’s office.”
pete wrote:It's a waste of the court's time to prosecute people for minor possession. Fully support Al-Rawi in this. Catch a guy with a couple grams of weed and we have to feed and house him for months/years, transport him to court, pay lawyers to prosecute him? Total BS and a waste of time. If anything it should incur a small fine as a deterrent, case closed.
pete wrote:It's a waste of the court's time to prosecute people for minor possession. Fully support Al-Rawi in this. Catch a guy with a couple grams of weed and we have to feed and house him for months/years, transport him to court, pay lawyers to prosecute him? Total BS and a waste of time. If anything it should incur a small fine as a deterrent, case closed.
DF1_2nR wrote:So your argument against legalization is that low level dealers will be out of business?
That's kind of the point. Eliminate the illegal market as much as possible and remove the strain on the police/judiciary/prison system that comes with enforcing the archaic laws.
Legalization alone isn't the answer. Legalization along with a realistic framework for regulation,cultivation, export/distribution locally as well as regionally of cannabis and hemp based products means lots of potential jobs being created. Who better to fill the positions than the persons that were illegally involved in the industry in the first place? It's a best case scenario sure, but if you have a chance to earn a legit living doing the same things you were doing illegally why continue with the riskier avenue?
There's lots of ground work to be done of course but the end state should be a sustainable industry that once managed competently brings in billions in revenue for the country if the examples we are seeing abroad are any indication.
If only we could get the backwards politicians/religious leaders etc. to see it that way, and eliminate the "weed is the devil" mindset brought on by years of propaganda, we have a chance at being an industry leader in the region. But more than likely they won't and we'll be stuck playing catch up after the fact.
thefallengods wrote:all drugs should be legal.
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