Final Report - CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana 2018 Waiting to Exhale

Dr. Griffith’s specialist research interests include cannabis / marijuana and its social dimensions. She is one of the few scholars in the region researching this area. She has published a number of scholarly articles. Dr. Griffith has also undertaken consultancies at the Urban Development Commission and the Ministry of Social Transformation (Barbados). She is a Member of the Social Policy Association.

DR. MAXINE GOSSELL- WILLIAMS Dr. Maxine Gossell-Williams is a Senior Lecturer in the Section of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Her research training was led through mentorship by Professor Manley West; the first scientist in the Caribbean to produce medicines from marijuana. Dr. Gossell-Williams’ research interests focus on the assessment of drug benefits and adverse effects; thus monitoring the safety of drugs. Through her work, she showed that marijuana use makes treatment of schizophrenic patients more challenging. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a winner of the Jamaica Public Service Company/ Scientific Research Council Young Scientist of the year award. She previously served as member of the Central Drug and Therapeutics Committee of the Ministry of Health of Jamaica.

Dr. Gossell-Williams has published a number of scholarly articles relevant to the subject of cannabis / marijuana, including: P Thomas, M Gossell-Williams, CA Sewell, WD Abel, D McGrowder, J Martin (2015). The Impact of Cannabis Use on the Dosage of Antipsychotic Drugs in Patients Admitted on the Psychiatric Ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies. West Indian Medical Journal Open 2 (1): 23-27.

BISHOP (RETIRED) SIMEON HALL After thirty years of serving in the Pastorate, Bishop Simeon B. Hall presently serves as Pastor Emeritus of New Covenant Baptist Church and Moderator Emeritus of the Bethel Baptist Association. Bishop Hall has led numerous Evangelistic and Mission exercises around the world. He has travelled extensively proclaiming the gospel, and has preached on all the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, in every major island nation in the Caribbean, forty-eight (48) States in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Beijing, London, Australia and many European and South American Countries.

Bishop Hall is the author of three books, “How the Kingdom Will Come”, “When the Eagle Stirs Her Nest” and “Sermons from A Bahamian Pulpit”. Bishop Hall was also honoured to have his sermon “How to Dance in A Graveyard Situation” recently featured in Baylor University’s publication “Baptist Preaching: A Global Anthology”.

Bishop Hall graduated from the American Baptist Theological Seminary in 1973 and completed studies at Vanderbilt University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and The Billy Graham School of Evangelism. He was consecrated a Bishop on August 27th, 2002 by the Association of Evangelical Churches of the State of Florida. He is married to the former Linda Hall (nee Farrington) and they are the proud parents of three children. Before going into fulltime Pastorate, he served as the Vice-Principal and an educator at the Jordan Prince William Baptist School and the Charles W. Saunders Baptist School.

Bishop Hall was elected President of The Bahamas Christian Council of Churches in 1997 and served the full term of three years. His strong social conscience, public advocacy, unique and colourful speeches placed the Council in the hearts and spirit of the Bahamian people and raised it to a new level never before experienced. Since completing his term, he remains an active member of the Council, often serving in an advisory capacity to the Council’s Board and its leadership.

A strong advocate for the disenfranchised and social justice for all, Bishop Hall’s stance on many political, social and economic issues has not gone unnoticed by the major political parties within The Bahamas. In the past 26 years, he has addressed both major Bahamian political parties a total of fourteen times on various issues and has been appointed and/or elected to various governmental and community bodies focused on social justice and community outreach. He was formerly President, Baptist Congress of Christian Education (B.B.M.E.C.) (1985-87), Vice President at Large, Bahamas National Baptist Convention, 1st Vice President, Bahamas Missionary & Educational Convention, Special Assistant to the President, Bahamas Christian Council, Pastor, Central Baptist Church (1982-1983), President, Baptist ix