Regional governments have been called out for not moving sooner to decriminalise the use of the popular contraband, marijuana.

Political analyst Peter Wickham said the governments of Caribbean countries will not legislate that personal use of the drug becomes legal, unless they would stand to gain politically.

“Ultimately, in politics you would want to win an election and certainly your ability to win an election makes you a lot useful in terms of driving issues. If you believe policy will reward you electorally, then you will pursue and if you believe policy will make you unpopular, then you would not want to pursue it,” Wickham said.

Reduced Penalties Aim to Give Youth a Second Chance

The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda announced on Friday, May 8, the launch of a commission to oversee the process of decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of marijuana.+

Social Transformation Minister Samantha Marshall is to head the five-member commission made up of both ruling party and opposition lawmakers, government spokesman Lionel Hurst told media following a cabinet meeting.+

 
Antigua and Barbuda have created a commission to oversee the decriminalization of marijuana possession. 

Hurst says the government wants to give young people with a criminal drug history a second chance.+

The Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party administration will be setting up a commission to oversee the process of decriminalising the possession of small quantities of marijuana.

The announcement came from spokesperson Lionel “Max “Hurst, during a press briefing following a Cabinet meeting.

Social of Transformation Minister Samantha Marshall will chair the five-member body, which is to be comprised of members of both the ruling and opposition parties.