Marijuana an issue of social significance...

education and a more coherent regional approach has been made.

The ten-person commission comprising experts in the scientific, medical, legal and social science fields, as well as a representative each from the religious community and youth were required by Heads, according to the Caricom release, to – “conduct a rigorous enquiry into the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the Caribbean and to determine whether there should be a change in the current drug classification of marijuana, thereby making the drug more accessible for all types of usage (religious, recreational, medical and research)”.

The Commission was also required to recommend the legal and administrative conditions to be applied should there be reclassification, the release also stated. The Commission has been reviewing information and secondary data pertaining to marijuana laws/legislation regulating its use and classification, findings related to research conducted on the medical/medicinal use of marijuana, the economic and social impact and its implications for the Region.

In addition, the Caricom Secretariat, working with the various Ministries of Foreign Affairs, facilitated national consultations with the Marijuana Regional Commission, according to the Caricom statement. These consultations were conducted through focus groups and public Town Hall meetings. Focus groups included representatives from the National Drug Councils, or their equivalents, law enforcement personnel, in and out of school youth and organizations and entities that work with, faith-based organizations and Special Interests Groups such as researchers, medical practitioners, NonGovernment Organisations, practitioners of alternative medicine and advocates for medicinal use of marijuana.

Information gathering is ongoing, the press release said. To this end, data are being collected from adolescents and youth with the assistance of Directors of National Drug Councils regionally and through social media survey.

The Commission is inviting the public, researchers and other interested persons to submit written material on marijuana for use in its work. Information can be sent to marijuana@caricom.org. A special website has been set up for the initiative and can be accessed at www.caricom.org/marijuana-commission.