U.S. Experts Challenging Belize’s Proposed Hemp Bill

Godwin Hulse

Belize is in the process of establishing a hemp industry. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Dean Barrow during his Independence Day speech this year. According to the PM, there is a global fascination with hemp which is thought to contain almost magical healing properties. This says the PM, means that Belize with ideal growing conditions will be excellently positioned to take advantage of the limitless world market. Along with other government ministries, the office of the Attorney General has been at work forging a legal framework that would regulate the industry. However, outside forces are challenging Belize’s legislation regarding the future hemp industry. During the recent sitting of the Senate, Lead Senator for Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Godwin Hulse, spoke of a recent meeting he was a part of that involved US experts. According to Hulse, these experts are challenging Belize’s Proposed Hemp Bill.

Godwin Hulse, Senator for Government Business

“I was subject to a meeting recently with four experts from the United States, decked out in suits, challenging our recently passed hemp bill because the United States think they always get it right. But I had to say to them, but you taking yours back to your senate if you find the space if you impeach or don’t impeach President Trump to be able to correct it. Seven different sections you have to correct. We got it right you know. You got two hundred and forty three years of law making experience. We have a thousand plus because we came out from the Westminster model. But there were our technicians from BAHA and I had to call them on them to talk up, you know what they are saying it’s not so. It was not until they jumped up and put their capacity there I noticed that those ones started to go down a little bit. And that is what I hope STEAM would do, do that innovation.”