The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act, it's that much talked about law which was passed by the the House and Senate. When it takes effect, the amended law will decriminalize possession of small quantities of marijuana, specifically 10 grams or less. The Government expects that the Governor General will sign his assent and bring the law into effect by tomorrow, November 1.
So, it's what you would call a done deal, but the National Evangelical Association of Belize says it refuses to remain silent. Though they are late with the public pressure, the leadership of the Evangelical Association hosted a press conference to complain that the Government passed this law too fast, without carefully considering their objection.
7News attended, and we heard what the different speakers had to say on the topic:
Pastor Scott Stirm - VP, NEAB
"The National Evangelical Association of Belize presented to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, on May 20, 2016, letters reports and the signatures of 225 national pastors and denominational overseers and leaders, expressing our strongest concern and objection to the initiative to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in Belize. That packet included scientific reports from the Harvard Medical School, the University of Australia, the Lancet Journal, the Journal of Neuroscience, and countless others, stating the scientific facts of research concerning damage to the brain from daily marijuana use, especially to teenagers."
"It seems to us that the alarming scientific and real life data has fallen on deaf ears. It seems that the influence of the decriminalizing of marijuana committee has overridden all other voices."
"We cannot sit silently, and idly by. As men of God, we must speak, and we call out our Government for such a misguided legislative move that will only lead to increased lawlessness."
Daniel Ortiz, reporter
"Why did the church take so long make a public statement?"
Pastor Lance Lewis - President, NEAB
"We gave the Prime Minister a document last year May, and we expected him to follow up on it. We did not actually anticipate that this bill would be passed so fast. So, we were planning our own little rally and demonstration, but we were, in a sense, caught on the back foot, so to speak."
Aaron Humes - Ch 5
"There is an element of compassion, if you will, for those whose lives have already been affected marijuana."
Pastor Lance Lewis - President, NEAB
"We feel that legalizing, even in a small amount, is a step in the wrong direction, as it will now allow more persons to be involved in this trade, and then, there will be the problem of how do you differentiate between hemp and weed, and the testing that will have to go on. And while all this is happening, the nation will be going down, and the rich will get richer, and the poor will get poorer."
Pastor Scott Stirm - VP, NEAB
"Yes, we fully support a compassionate, alternate track towards expungement, because God is a God of new beginnings, and that's who we represent. But, do not lower the bar on consequences or else - as any parent can tell you, any time you remove consequences for a certain behavior, that behavior will increase."
At this press conference, the NEAB also focused on the sodomy law, which they still see as another starting point of moral decay in Belize.
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