Lets deal with what should not be a controversial issue, says PintardMinister: The longer we wait, the longer we miss opportunities
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Michael Pintard said yesterday that he intends to lobby Cabinet to move forward with plans to cultivate industrial hemp and CBD in The Bahamas.
Pintards comments come amid longstanding public debate over the governments plans to decriminalize cannabis in The Bahamas following more than two years of consultation and a preliminary report by the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana.
When asked about the matter during a press conference on his ministrys efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pintard said the marijuana issue is under the purview of the prime minister and the commission.
He noted however that the opportunities for industrial hemp, a variety of cannabis sativa used for industrial uses of its derived products, and CBD, derived from the hemp plant, is non-controversial and advantageous.
That is something that has massive potential, Pintard said.
Weve had numerous meetings on it with investors, Bahamians and otherwise with respect to industrial hemp.
That is not what you smoke. You dont get highIt is used to produce a wide range of everyday products that you and I would use.
It is my intention to ask Cabinet that we proceed in terms of separating that until the question of cannabis has been settled.
The minister noted that similar opportunities exist for the cultivation of CBD anonintoxicatingcannabinoid found in the plant.
He said: We need to move on the things that are not controversial to a large extent, that have the potential to generate revenue, that others are taking advantage of, and the longer we wait for the longer we miss opportunities.
The commissions preliminary report on marijuana was leaked to the media in January and later tabled in Parliament in early February.
Among its 24 recommendations, the BNCM has advised the government to allow that prescribed medical cannabis to be able to grow sufficient plants for their use; to allow tourists who are prescribed medical cannabis in their countries to obtain it in The Bahamas, and to allow the importation of regulated cannabis products for ailments.
Cannabis possession would be decriminalized up to one ounce or less for personal use for people 21 years or older and laws would be amended for the immediate expungement of small possession criminal records.
The commission stopped short of recommending the legalization of recreational marijuana, insisting that the issue needs to be explored further before a consensus can be garnered.
Its final report was expected to be presented following a national survey to codify the views of the Bahamian public on the matter, however, the local spread of the virus has stalled the commissions work.
Eyewitness News reported on Wednesday thatthe commission will perform an extensive review on the 24 recommendationsas part of its final report.
Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana Co-Chair Quinn McCartney said: So, we will be looking at that in much more detail, those recommendations where there was clear support, certainly from the commissioners.
He continued: The commissioners are relooking at these 24 recommendations to provide more substance to what we have recommended in our preliminary report, supported by additional information that we may obtain, [and] certainly, information that we hope to garner from our survey.
We definitely still want to do the survey even though it may take a different [direction] in terms of how it is administered this time because of COVID-19 and the safety protocols.
The commission has been reconstituted until the end of June 2021.
Attorney General Carl Bethel told Eyewitness News recently that draftspersons were working on marijuana legislation.
Read more:
- Bahamas Vacation Packages & Travel Deals - Atlantis - December 9th, 2016 [December 9th, 2016]
- Bahamas: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture ... - December 12th, 2016 [December 12th, 2016]
- Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas Where to Stay - December 22nd, 2016 [December 22nd, 2016]
- Bahamas Vacation Packages & Travel Deals | BookIt.com - December 22nd, 2016 [December 22nd, 2016]
- All-Inclusive Hotels & Resorts, Nassau Paradise Island - January 15th, 2017 [January 15th, 2017]
- Bahamas - The New York Times - February 5th, 2017 [February 5th, 2017]
- The Official UK website, The Island of The Bahamas | The ... - February 5th, 2017 [February 5th, 2017]
- No Elections Just Yet, Bahamas Prime Minister Says | Caribbean360 - Caribbean360.com (subscription) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Survival in the Bahamas - Lifestyle - The Daily Herald - Columbia, TN - Columbia Daily Herald - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- CHTA Donates $25000 for Bahamas hurricane relief - Yahoo Finance - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Miami hosting Venezuela-Bahamas Davis Cup tie - Tennis Magazine - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Venezuela plays Bahamas in "home" Davis Cup matches in Doral ... - Miami Herald - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Bahamas tops Caribbean on crime's economic cost | The Tribune - Bahamas Tribune - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Bahamas Victory Could Propel Lincicome to 2017 Solheim Cup - LPGA (press release) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Lupus Bahamas releases new 'Lupus and the Kidneys' Educational Pamphlet - The Freeport News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Volunteers 'Good To Go' For Iaaf World Relays Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- In the Bahamas, the Art of Conch - Caribbean Journal - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Doug Manchester to be Bahama Papa for US? - San Diego Reader - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Conference USA helps Old Dominion make money on Bahamas Bowl trip - Daily Press - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- SaskTel beaches employees in the Bahamas - News Talk 650 CKOM - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Travel Deals - Official Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas ... - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Cruise Liner pulls out of Bahamas for Cuba - Jamaica Observer - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Ancient Tropical Tortoise Found in a Deep Blue Sinkhole in the Bahamas - Seeker - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- In A Growing Trend, Norwegian Cruise Lines Drops Bahamas In Favor Of Cuba - Cuba Journal - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Cruise Line Drops 25 Bahamas Sailings - Cruise Radio (blog) - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Bloody weekend in Bahamas, Opposition calls for Gov't to break silence - Jamaica Observer - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Nassau, Bahamas: Where to eat, dive and lay out on the sand - amNY - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Greenslade: Bahamas Is Not In Crisis - Bahamas Tribune - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- The Oshies, Alzners, and Winniks are vacationing together in the Bahamas - Russian Machine Never Breaks - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Caps players and families have 'best Valentine's Day ever' in the Bahamas - Russian Machine Never Breaks - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Search called off for Georgia man who went overboard in Bahamas - 11alive.com - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- IXE Bahamas Bank Bid Crashes - finews.com - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Authorities Blame Gangs for the Bahamas' Bloody Start to 2017 - Insightcrime.org - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Official Launch Of 'Team Bahamas' Carifta Movement - Bahamas Tribune - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Will Klay Thompson Wear The Anta KT 2 Bahamas During NBA All ... - KicksOnFire.com - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Hefty 13ft tiger shark is a local record-breaker in the Bahamas - Earth Touch - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Hendrix students travel to Bahamas for mission trip - Log Cabin Democrat - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Silver Airways adds more non-stop flights to the Bahamas - WFLA - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Bahamas' 'Growth Potential' Down 3% Since Century Start - Bahamas Tribune - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Imf Bahamas Chief Supports Fiscal Limits - Bahamas Tribune - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Tough Approach on Tax Arrears Pays Off For Bahamas Government - Caribbean360.com (subscription) - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Privy Council Has Fourth Sitting In The Bahamas - The Bahama Journal - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Bahamas Well Represented at NY Times and Boston Globe Travel Shows - South Florida Caribbean News - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Take the Unlikely Plunge into the Beautiful Waters of The Bahamas - TravelPulse (blog) - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Bahamas Tops Guyana 4-1 At Concacaf Beach Soccer - Bahamas Tribune - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Widely Adored Swimming Pigs Found Dead in the Bahamas - Travel+Leisure - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Bahamas famous swimming pigs found dead in ocean - only seven or eight left - News24 - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Swimming with pigs in the Bahamas could soon be a thing of the past as only seven of them are still alive - The Sun - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Robocall scheme that sold Bahamas cruises is in permanent dry dock - MyPalmBeachPost (blog) - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Bahamas Gets 3-0 Win Over Belize - Bahamas Tribune - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Three Straight: Lesly St Fleur Scores Hat Trick As Bahamas Beats Jamaica 3-2 - Bahamas Tribune - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- The Famous Pigs From The Bachelor Island Date Are Dying - Refinery29 - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Bank fees also under the radar in The Bahamas - Jamaica Gleaner - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- 20 Best Resorts in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Turks & Caicos - Cond Nast Traveler - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Moody'S: Bahamas Deficit Will Exceed $300m This Year - Bahamas Tribune - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Bahamas Face Guadeloupe In Beach Soccer Quarter-Finals On Friday Night - Bahamas Tribune - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Beloved Swimming Pigs Of The Bahamas Found Dead - Huffington Post - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Bahamas Must 'Buffer' Against Deficit Blow-Out - Bahamas Tribune - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Guadeloupe End Bahamas Hopes Of Progress In Beach Soccer Championship - Bahamas Tribune - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Caribbean Hotel And Tourism Assoc. Helps Hurricane-Affected Haiti & The Bahamas - South Florida Caribbean News - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- AG warning about 'Bahamas Grandkids Scam' - Artesia Daily Press - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Junior golfers fare well at Bahamas tournament - Cayman Compass - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Bahamas face US in fifth place playoff after beating Trinidad | The ... - Bahamas Tribune - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Swimming pigs of the Exuma Cays, Bahama's killed and tourists are ... - Metro - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Bahamas Grateful To Support From Missionary Flights International - South Florida Caribbean News - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- The Bahamas Private Developers vs. Government Run - Albany Times Union (blog) - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Amnesty Int'l critical of Jamaica, Haiti, The Bahamas - News ... - Jamaica Observer - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Bahamas Suffers 4-2 Loss To Usa - Bahamas Tribune - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- PRESS RELEASE: Dan Marino And Friends Bahamas Weekend 2017 Planned For May 25-27 - MiamiDolphins - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- In the Bahamas, Sharks Are Worth More Alive than Dead - Hakai Magazine - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Amnesty Int'l critical of Jamaica, Haiti, The Bahamas - NYCaribNews - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Several of the Bahamas' Beloved Swimming Pigs Found Dead - TownandCountrymag.com (blog) - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Bahamas famous swimming pigs dead from possible tourist feeding - MyStatesman.com - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Rosewood Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas to open in 2018 | Rus ... - RusTourismNews - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Tourists may have killed Bahamas' famous swimming pigs - New York Post - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- DNA Party: PM Offers More Harm Than Good In Office - The Bahama Journal - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Famous Swimming Pigs in the Bahamas Found Dead After Tourists Give Them Alcohol - Cosmopolitan.com - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Mysterious wave of death strikes the Bahamas' famous swimming pigs - Washington Post - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2017 set to be biggest one yet - International Association of Athletics Federations - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Bahamas PM Apologizes For Flipping Bird, Saying He Lost Control While Defending Family - Caribbean360.com (subscription) - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]