Advocacy group meets MPs to discuss marijuana legislation
Members of the steering committee of the Society of Marijuana Advocates for Reform and Treatment (SMART), along with members of the Guyana Rastafari Council met with Members of Parliament (MPs) Michael Carrington and Audwin
SMART steering committee member Nicole Cole hands over a copy of “SMART’s Reform Proposals” to Member of Parliament Michael Carrington
Rutherford on September 5, 2017, at the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) party headquarters in Kitty, Georgetown, to discuss matters relating to marijuana reform legislation.
MP Carrington gave a comprehensive overview of the efforts to bring new legislation to the National Assembly to amend the “Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Act 1988” (NDPA) of Guyana, including amendments to Section 4 to decriminalise the use of small amounts of marijuana; amendments to Section 5 to increase the stipulated amount for possession from 15 grams to 55 grams and amendments to Section 12 to prevent persons from being sentenced for possessing or smoking a utensil intended for narcotics use. Additionally, he expressed confidence that the Amendment Bill will be tabled soon in the National Assembly.
SMART outlined its mission and objectives and presented its list of reform proposals to the MPs and signalled its intention to work with all stakeholders to bring about reform of the current legal regime governing the use of marijuana.
SMART is an advocacy group that aims to increase public awareness and consciousness to facilitate reform of marijuana laws to allow for personal use of small amounts of marijuana and to advocate for the establishment of adequate therapeutic rehabilitation programmes for marijuana addicts.
