with which the Caribbean public treated the issue.6 Public expressions through the Commission’s work in turn helped to galvanise policy positions and promises for national review even in advance of this Report. 1.13. The need for more public education and a more coherent regional approach has also been raised in those states where decisions have already been taken to engage in law reform on marijuana, or which have already done so. 1.14. The work of the Commission in hosting public consultations regionally and in general, highlighting the issues for debate, also helped to mobilise existing law reform initiatives, giving a regional frame of reference to the issue. During the tenure of the Commission, two countries took steps to amend its law to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis. These were Belize and Antigua and Barbuda. Jamaica had amended its law soon after the announcement of the Commission, but before its convening. Arguably, the commitment demonstrated by CARICOM in the establishment of the Commission in of itself, provided the impetus for those Member States which were close to readiness for law reform. Other Member States have awaited, patiently, the outcome of the process initiated by CARICOM. 1.15. The work of the Commission is thus envisaged as providing support even to those governments that have already advanced their law reform agendas on marijuana. It aims to contribute to the multidisciplinary policy rationales and research needed to inform future law reform on the subject of marijuana, law reform processes which are still in the infant stages. Importantly, it seeks to provide the groundwork for a unified and coherent CARICOM policy on marijuana.
2. USAGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD CANNABIS/ MARIJUANA Widespread Usage Despite Prohibition
2.1. Cannabis/ marijuana, is the most extensively used illicit drug in the world. The World Drug Report (2017) notes that an estimated 183 million people consume it.7 Remarkably, despite extensive controls and punitive measures, use of the substance has persisted and taken root globally in many societies. Cannabis/ marijuana is also widely used in the Commonwealth Caribbean despite the draconian, prohibitionist legal regime that exists in every Member State. 2.2. The information gleaned from the Commission’s Consultations, submissions and focus group meetings confirms this wide usage, which cuts across all social classes, professions, race, religion and income bracket. Many participants in the Consultations highlighted that it was easily available and accessible. Several professionals, including doctors and lawyers, spoke openly of their current or past use of cannabis/ marijuana and their belief that it had helped, not harmed them. Many persons also stated that despite the harsh laws, they would never stop using the substance. In Barbados, 43% admitted to using cannabis/ marijuana in a 2014 CADRES poll commissioned by the Government.8 In 2017, 17% of persons in The Bahamas said they used marijuana monthly. In 2016, Guyana the percentage of persons who used marijuana within that year was 9.8%. 2.3. While usage of cannabis/ marijuana for purposes other than medicinal is often referred to as ‘recreational,’, the Commission notes that, as discussed below, cannabis/ marijuana is proven to have therapeutic properties, as a stress reliever, so that the term ‘recreational’ is somewhat of a misnomer, since it ignores the mental health issues in this paradigm. 2.4. What is evident too is that there is also widespread usage among children and young persons. In the Commission’s online survey conducted over the period Feb 20 to May 17, 2018. 91% of youth between the ages of 17-30 responded that it was either “easy” or “very” easy to get and purchase marijuana. https://thenassauguardian.com/2018/01/11/cabinet-to-discuss-marijuana -issue/ Cabinet to discuss marijuana issue, January 11, 2018. Lee & Hancox (2011); Thielmann & Daeninck (2013) also found cannabis to be a popular drug. 8 Peter Wickham, ‘Ganja Politics’, National News, June 5, 2016, http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/81923/peter-wickham-ganja-politics. 6 7
10