Calls Increase for National Referendum on Cannabis Bill; Debate Began Last Year
The calls for a referendum on the legalization of marijuana are increasing. The evangelical churches and the council of churches have taken an official position in support of a referendum. The United Democratic Party has since taken an official stance in support of the churches’ call for a referendum, but for different reasons. All this is happening following the passing of Cannabis Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill through both the House of Representative and the Senate. The Government did, however, indicate that in the Senate that they would delay the implementation of the Bill for further consultations. Before we look at the latest from the church and the Opposition, News Five’s Paul Lopez has the previous statements on record from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Opposition Leader, the medical community, and the churches. All these entities have weighed in on the matter over the last nine months.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Cannabis Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill have sparked division within society. The Government of Belize and the Opposition both appear to be in support of legalizing marijuana in Belize for recreation use. But, the medical community holds some reservations, while the church has categorically objected to the move. Kareem Musa, the Minister of New Growth Industry reasons that legalizing marijuana will decrease gang related murders in Belize City.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries [File: March 14, 2022]
“All of these gang-related murders, they all stem from this very plant and so we have to find a way to include these young men in a very responsible and safe system so they have to be a part of the system in terms of dealing, but at the same time we have to understand that that is the root cause. Yes, there may be a continuation in terms of retaliation, but when you look at it, all of the illegal drugs, again we don’t know what is in these drugs coming across the border but they also come along with illegal firearms and that is something that we have to curtail. Again, that is something that we’re trying to fix. If we produce local marijuana for these young men to sell then they won’t have to buy and dodge the police and come in illegally with this foreign marijuana which we don’t know what is in there.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, the Leader of the Opposition has given his support for the bill in 2021.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition [File: July 5, 2021]
“This is one of the times that I agree with the government. I applaud the government for taking such a bold step towards removing the criminality of cannabis consumption and cannabis trade; which the criminalization of cannabis has impacted the poor and lower class for generations. So, I applaud Minister Kareem Musa for taking such a bold step to reverse generations of discrimination and classicism but also help to boost our economy because the economic ramifications of the legalization of cannabis are tremendous.”
The Belize Medical and Dental Association believes that Belizeans needs more education on the use of Marijuana for medical and recreational purposes.
Dr. Joel Cervantes
Dr. Joel Cervantes, Cannabis Committee, B.M.D.A. [File: November 1, 2021]
“We took this to our membership and we did a national survey with our physicians. The findings were interesting, three key points that were interesting. Less than twenty-five percent of our physicians, membership, agreed that marijuana should be legalized for leisurely purpose. Approximately seventy-five percent of our membership agreed that in the future there is a place for marijuana from a medicinal perspective if we have the proper regulation and the proper information on board for that.”
And then there is the Council of Churches and the National Evangelical Association who strongly oppose the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes.
Pastor Lance Lewis
Pastor Lance Lewis, Vice President, NEAB (via Zoom) [File: October 25, 2021]
“We see some serious red flags, especially for our young people. We see some dangerous red flags for the nation in general, because what we are noticing is that there are several Caribbean countries that are into marijuana nut they do not have the type of situations that Belize has with some big countries around us with cartels, with big gangs that can easily come into our space. Gangs and people who do business of any sort always want to make more profit. So it will induce and it will invite others to come in for a piece of the pie. And we think that will be sending us down the wrong avenue.”
And the Council of Churches is standing in solidarity with the NEAB. With these varying positions on the issue, the church is calling for a referendum so that the nation can decide by majority vote. And, in an interesting turn of events, the Opposition party today came out in support of holding a referendum on the issue. The Government of Belize has not issued an official position on the call for a referendum.
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
