A closer look: CARICOM’s breakdown for legalising weed

A closer look: CARICOM’s breakdown for legalising weed

The recent Marijuana Report released by CARICOM revealed numerous potential economic and health benefits for The Bahamas.

The committee presented three possible models for the legalization of marijuana.

The first model was the decriminalization of marijuana use, with supply remaining illegal. This means that small amounts of marijuana would no longer be illegal to use. However, it would still be illegal to sell.

The second method was full legalization of marijuana production, sale, and use, with state control. This means that the government would be in control of the production and sale of marijuana.

The final method was the full legalization of marijuana production sale and use within a competitive market system. In this method, anybody would be able to produce and sell marijuana.

Out of the three, full legalization of marijuana production sale and use, with state-controlled reaped the most profit although the profit outweighed the cost in each method.

The estimated gain for the next two years was calculated to be $5.86 million.

The report noted that the list does not provide a complete rundown of costs and benefits as the data was generated based on the availability of data in each country.

The report also stated that a cannabis economy can help to bolster the tourism economy.

“Cannabis can be produced for export as well as for local healing and can be the foundation for a new and vibrant wellness tourism industry.”

The report outlined numerous potential health benefits.

According to the report, the drug can be used to help with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, glaucoma, anorexia and weight loss, pain, multiple sclerosis, sleep disorders and mental disorders.

“A growing body of scientific research suggests that marijuana is effective in the treatment of diseases such as Migraines, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Digestive Diseases, Gliomas, Hepatitis C, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, and asthma – if prepared without smoking,” the report stated.

“Research has also credited marijuana use to the slowed progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

The commission is aware of the addictive nature of cannabis and the potential influence that it can have on its users.

However, they believe that the “proven medical benefits of cannabis/marijuana in several areas outweighs the risks”.

__

This article was written by TAJARO HUDSON, Eyewitness News intern.