St. Lucia opposition urges government to take a stance on marijuana

Leader of the main opposition St. Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Philip J. Pierre, has asserted that this country must take a position on marijuana, declaring that it is an issue that can no longer be dodged.

Pierre recalled that the 2016 election manifesto the SLP declared that the party would have a commission to discuss marijuana.

He noted that the then prime minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, said the island would go the way of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on the issue.

“Now that horse has bolted – CARICOM has gone their own way,” the SLP leader explained.

He observed that Grenada, Antigua and Trinidad and Tobago have all gone their different ways.

“St Lucia must take a position,” Pierre told reporters.

The Castries East MP expressed the view that for a start, the criminal record should be cleared of the names of people who have been convicted for small quantities of marijuana.

Pierre  said the marijuana issue should be considered not only from the point of view of smoking the herb, but from an economic standpoint as well.