7 News Belize

Cabinet Leaning Towards De-criminalization of Weed – Wants To Consult Churches
posted (March 18, 2015)

Belize's weed laws could be in for a radical change as there are credible reports tonight that Cabinet has decided in principle to support the de-criminalisation of possession of less than ten grammes of marijuana. 7news has confirmed that the subject was discussed at Cabinet yesterday with a majority of the ministers supporting – again, in principle - the recommendations of the Decriminalization of Marijuana Committee.

Their final report which was tabled three weeks ago recommended that possession of up to ten grammes of marijuana should not be a criminal offence. The committee recommended that 10 grams or less be listed for private, personal use, and persons found with that quantity should get a ticket with fines and no possibility of incarceration or any offence on their criminal record. Ten grams of weed is a third of an ounce as much as you see in this bag – and can make up about ten average sized marijuana joints.

And while that is what the Committee recommended –and what a majority of Cabinet supported in principle – the details and timeline are another thing completely.

We are told that a number of ministers – including the police minister John Saldivar - flatly opposed it, stressing that the churches and civil society groups need to be consulted first. Cabinet also has to work out broader consultations and his expressed discomfort with the word decriminalization.

We'll keep following developments on this.

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