SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The authorities of the Bahamas has unveiled a number of payments geared toward legalizing marijuana for medical and non secular functions and decriminalizing possession of small quantities, becoming a member of different Caribbean nations which have taken comparable steps.

If accepted, these caught with lower than 30 grams (one ounce) of marijuana would pay a $250 effective and the incident wouldn't seem on their legal document. Buying marijuana for leisure functions would stay unlawful.

Officials mentioned licenses for cultivation, retail, transport and non secular use would solely be granted to firms which might be completely Bahamian owned. Licenses for analysis, testing and manufacturing could be awarded to firms which might be no less than 30% Bahamian owned.

Attorney General Ryan Pinder instructed reporters Thursday that marijuana for spiritual functions might solely be smoked on the premises of a licensed group.

The authorities envisions making a Cannabis Authority to control the trade.

Public hearings on the problem are scheduled for September, and laws may very well be accepted earlier than subsequent yr.

Other Caribbean nations have relaxed their marijuana legal guidelines. Antigua decriminalized marijuana use for most of the people. Jamaica additionally decriminalized small quantities of marijuana, whereas the U.S. Virgin Islands not too long ago approved its leisure and sacramental use.

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