Since the beginning of the month, we've been telling you about the decision by Kareem Musa, the Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industry, to lead a serious conversation with the Belizean public about the possible legalization of cannabis. The Briceno Administration wants to explore the idea of establishing a marijuana and hemp industry in Belize.
From the Minister's perspective, this is a potentially lucrative endeavour that Belize has not seriously considered. The Ministry is being advised by Alex Lavin, a pro-marijuana advocate, and expert who has established marijuana industrial operations in the US.
He's now in Belize and last night, the Ministry of New Growth Industries held a virtual town hall meeting, in which Lavin and Musa spoke extensively on the topic to the Belizeans who tuned in. 7News was a part of that discussion and Daniel Ortiz reports:
For this 1st Town Hall Meeting to discuss marijuana legalization and the possible establishment of a Cannabis industry in Belize, the Ministry of New Growth Industries attracted the attention and a little more than 200 Belizeans who tuned in via Zoom teleconference. They were there to find out how serious the Government was about progressing to these big stages on a very controversial topic.
The head table established very early that this needed to be a calm and mature discussion.
Kevin Arthurs - CEO, Ministry of New Growth Industries "We know that there's a lot of enthusiasm because we received over 150 questions. This is more a regulatory and explorative conversation that we hope to have, and as we go through that, there are some rules that will help us to move forward quickly and respectfully."
Hon. Kareem Musa - Minister of New Growth Industries "We have been sitting by as spectators, watching the rest of the world take part in this very lucrative industry. How do we move forward in a very responsible manner? I must emphasize that."
Alex Lavin - Cannabis Consultant "I've been coming to Belize for close to about 7 to 10 years now. And one of the things that I was always trying to drive home is - first and foremost - the beauty that Belize has, but the natural climate that it has, and if it ever wanted to be a player in the hemp or cannabis industry, the importance of having standards because the industry has evolved so much that if Belize does not catch up to those standards, there will be no market for Belize."
Probably the biggest message that the consultant brought to the virtual town hall meeting last night was the importance of high standards in any potential cannabis industry in Belize. If there ever is to be successful Belizean marijuana or hemp products, consumers, both domestic and external, need to be assured that it is of high quality and that harmful chemicals or processes weren't used to manufacture them.
Alex Lavin "Take a bag of potato chips, Doritos, any brand that you can think of, Cheerios cereal, every single one has to tag and trace from beginning to end, to know where the wheat came from, to know how it was processed. Who processed it? What batch number? If there is an error, you need to be able to find it. If it turns into a wild-wild west, then the reality is that no one, not an investment group, banking, not anyone will take Belize seriously in this industry. So, the importance of standards is paramount for Belize to move ahead in this industry."
Kevin Arthurs "What if somebody would also say that listen, in Belize, those high standards don't apply. That's not what we do here. And here, we could simply call somebody and get a pass."
Alex Lavin "I would tell you to be very cautious from a health standards standpoint because every single product that I've tested in Belize tests very high in mold, powdery mildew, and pesticides. So, I would also caution these people that are maybe accustomed to maybe purchasing in that angle. Let me tell you that majority of it is coming from Mexico. So, Belize is not benefitting anything from any of this. To the individuals who say that they can call their normal dealer to go and get it for them, I would caution them that this is a health standard standpoint, and this involves the whole nation, not just that one individual. It also includes the tourists who are going to come into this country, that are accustomed already to a quality of product that they're used to getting. Do you want to smoke a contaminated product? Do you want to buy a chocolate chip cookie that's laced with pesticide? Why would you want to smoke cannabis that's laced with pesticides?"
On the regulation side of this plant, these are a few ideas that the Ministry has for Cannabis.
Hon. Kareem Musa "Take, for instance, Kevin, that I have in my possession, and I can have in my possession - all day long - 10 grams of cannabis. So, from 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock, I can smoke 10 grams, from 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock, 10 grams, 11 to 12, ten grams. That adds up the amount of cannabis that one can consume in one day. It adds up. But now, think about putting in place regulations, whereby you are issued a registration card. And we're saying that going this route, you will have an ID that whenever you go to a store to purchase, it will be scanned in that you purchased a particular product, and it was only 10 grams. And we can limit that purchase. You cannot go over that. So, even if we adjust it to 20 grams, which I'm not in favour of that. I don't think anybody should be smoking more than 10 grams for the day. But, if you go and register your card. And you scan your card, you cannot get any more for the rest of the day."
On the establishment of a local cannabis industry, the Minister thinks that time is running out for Belize to pursue this and stay ahead of the global progression on marijuana.
Hon. Kareem Musa "What we have to realize is that there is a very small window of opportunity. Because right now as we speak, you can see it every single day on international news, Mexico is moving forward with adult use only, and medicinal consumption of marijuana. In the United States of America, all of the states are moving in the direction of medicinal and recreational use of marijuana. It's going "federal", as they say. And once it goes federal, it is now like any single product that you have. It's like a pack of cigarettes. So, in very short order, if Belize does not capitalize at this very moment, to get some economic benefit from this, we will continue to be an importer nation. We will be importing Marlboro cigarettes, cannabis cigarettes."
The Minister is proposing marijuana policy changes to be rolled out in a few months' time.
Hon. Kareem Musa "Where it goes from a discussion to a policy, to legislation, I think is where Miss Audrey is asking. And, I would want to say within 2 months, in terms of cannabis regulation. Industrial hemp, we are already revising those regulations. And, that should be ready by the middle of February. I know a lot of you in this particular Zoom are interested in moving forward with industrial hemp. I know everybody is eager and excited to move forward. We want to take our time with this."
Marijuana's Effects On the Young
One of the major concerns for Belizeans who oppose to the legalization of marijuana is the impact it will have on the youth population. It would be yet another substance that they could abuse, and past studies have revealed that it is already a problem, along with alcohol.
Here's what Consultant Alex Lavin had to say on that matter:
Alex Lavin "Myself, I have 2 boys - 2 children - that I worry about access at a youth age. There have been certain concerns as far as abuse of it, of using this substance. And really, standards are what separates the abuse. I always give the analogy of a 6-pack of beer. If you have 1 beer socially, everyone cheers, has a good time, there's nothing. But if that individual decides to drink 6 beers, well then that person shouldn't be driving, or it could cause, you know, some type of ailment. The goal of this industry from a global standpoint is dosing and standardization. Give me your favourite product that is a packaged product at a grocery store that you love to buy. All of those products have standards, if not, they could not hit the shelves."
Last night, the Minister told Belizeans in this town hall meeting that the legalization would happen for adults only, and that it would be strictly regulated.
UDP. Launches OW Slate
Turning back to politics, this afternoon, the UDP formally introduced its slate of candidates for the Orange Walk Town Municipal Elections.
Those candidates are Orlando "Chicle" Castillo, who wants to be mayor, along with his team: Rene Escalante, Andi Yam, Shamika Bull, Estelita Carlos, Henry Gomez, and Melvin "Twin" Adolphus.
Here's what the mayoral candidate had to say at a press conference as this party headquarters in Belize City:
For the upcoming municipal election, this UDP slate will be going up against the PUP's Doreth Pascascio, Joanna Rodriguez, Joesie Cantun, Ladrick 'Mad Bull' Sheppard, Allen Yu, Cadir Escalante, and Fernando 'Big Sanch' Sanchez. Currently, many of them are on the PUP town council that's finishing its three-year term.
UDP Chairman on Charge For Sec. Gen.
And while the UDP is getting its candidates ready, right now the party's Secretary General, Alberto August is getting ready to face charges for "spreading false news"
He'll go to the Magistrate's Court tomorrow and answer for a Facebook post he allegedly made in December saying, quote, "Kareem Musa, the level pf police brutality is definitely not what the people voted for. If we have to take it to the streets to end it, trust me, we will" End quote.
But, the police say he got it wrong, because the man who he said had been a victim of. police brutality was actually in a motorcycle accident.
So that's why they are charging him for spreading false news. Today the UDP chairman said it is a waste of time - but - he feels - symptomatic of a government looking for a distraction:
The Quarry Controversy
And while he will go to court tin Cayo, the UDP mayor of that same town is in the. Court of public opinion against the Ministry of Infrastructure.
This disagreement is over a quarry that, according to Mayor Earl Trapp, they have been using for years. In addition, he claims that the council has monies invested in the quarry. But two days ago, he received a letter from the Ministry requiring them to cease and desist from their usage of the quarry. The letter states that the council has not formally asked the Ministry for support to use the quarry, which is standard procedure in requesting a mining permit.
Today, the Ministry issued a press release clarifying that they have had sole access to the quarry, located at mile 70 of the George Price Highway, for the past 30 years. This is to enable the Ministry to maintain the village streets in communities on the outskirts of the towns.
But they claimed they have been hindered by the SISE Council because since 2013, the council has locked the entrance and prevented the Ministry's personnel and equipment from accessing the quarry, thus increasing their operational costs to carry out their primary road maintenance in the surrounding villages. The letter states that the cease and desist order was only issued to the Town Council after repeated attempts were made to enable the Ministry to source materials from the quarry.
FFB on Banana Bank Football And while the Ministry of Infrastructure is asking the SISE Town Council to cease and desist from using the quarry, police officers had to do the same with a group of footballers who were caught playing a match. We told you yesterday the players insisted the match was sanctioned by the Ministry of Sports, a claim that the Minister was quick to deny. Today, the FFB voiced their input via a press release in which they said that, this past Saturday, they engaged players from the National Senior Team in the Banana Bank Area. However, they clarified that the training sessions was done in line with the MOE guidelines and safety regulations and was only done to prepare the players to compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which commences in March. They reiterated, though, that they would never encourage any player, coach or fan to go against the legal mandated restrictions under the current SI.
Speaking Truth To Venezuela And while FFB condemned the illegal match, the Foreign Minister condemned the illegal detention of Guyanese Nationals by Venezuelan naval authorities. Minister Courtenay met with the Venezuelan Ambassador and said it was a violation of Guyana's sovereignty and territorial integrity, since the persons were intercepted in Guyana's Exclusive Economic Zone. Belize called for the immediate release of the illegally detained Guyanese nationals and their vessels. Today. Minister Courtenay reiterated the statement.
The Man Behind the Music: "Mind of Me"
And from an international incident to the underground, producer Ashley Tony Rocke launched his streaming service last night with a virtual listening Party called "Mind of Me."
It was an eclectic mix of percussion, strings, and vocals, and according to the young producer the introduction of a medium with which he plans to share the work of any young Belizean artist who'll let him. Here's that story.
You can stream last night's virtual listening party on Facebook at the page for Rocke's production company Under the Shade 501.
