The Bermuda government says it will press ahead with stalled plans to license cannabis production on the island.
Premier David Burt, who has returned home from an official trip to London, said his administration had “no intention” of tailoring its laws licensing cannabis production to fit with the United Kingdom’s conventions allowing the drug for medicinal use only.
Burt in a statement on Sunday night, said legislation for legal cannabis in Bermuda is set to go before legislators in the current session of parliament.
The statement came after the Premier’s return from the Joint Ministerial Council in London between the UK government and elected heads of Britain’s Overseas Territories
A question mark hung over the cannabis legislation, passed by the House of Assembly but turned back by the Senate in the last parliamentary session, as to whether it would receive the royal assent from Governor Rena Lalgie.
The government, which holds a commanding 24-seat majority in the House, conceded in February that Bermuda’s plans for legalised cannabis went beyond the limits of international conventions on the drug, which Britain upholds.
The legislation does not conform to the UK international obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs of 1961.
Burt’s remarks followed his meeting with Amanda Milling, the Minister of State for the Overseas Territories.
“It was critical to make it clear that there is no intention by the government of Bermuda to amend the current legislation to conform to the 60-year-old convention that allows cannabis supply for medicinal purposes only.
“Many countries, such as Canada, that allow regulated supply of cannabis for non-medicinal purposes, are signatories to that convention.
“The overall intent of the legislation is clear, and it enjoys the support of the Bermuda electorate, which was confirmed at the last general election,” Burt said, adding “the government is undeterred in advancing the bill through the legislature again this year.”
Burt said that once the legislation was passed in the House, the government’s “expectation” was for permission to be granted by the Foreign Secretary for the Governor’s assent to the legislation.
“Through the Home Office, Bermuda and the UK government have agreed to accelerate discussions at the official level to ensure that the will of the Bermudian electorate as expressed through their democratically elected representatives is respected.”
Burt has previously stated that failure to give assent to the cannabis legislation would “destroy the relationship that we have” with the UK.
The sweeping reforms under the Cannabis Licensing Act would legalise the drug recreationally and create a regulated business framework for its sale and use.
Source-CMC
