And while the Ministry of Health focuses on getting as many people vaccinated, the Ministry of New Growth Industries is hoping that the new Misuse of Drug Bill will help curb crime.
Minister Kareem Musa says he wants to open the licenses to those regular "durrs" and dealers that are already on the street.
And Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow has the same perspective. On Monday, right after the recall convention, Shyne and his party colleague, Tracy Panton, presented the opposition's side in the National Security and Immigration committee meeting. He told us today that the DPM had agreed with his report.
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"The government was very receptive to the submissions and contributions of the Hon. Tracey Panton and myself who both represent the opposition on that house committee. Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde and I have the very same sentiments when it comes to including the poor, marginalize, disenfranchise and I believe even Minister Musa alluded to it when he presented the bill to ensure that these people are not excluded from the marijuana commerce and those people who had to participate in the marijuana trade due to poverty and as a means of survival, we don't want there to be an instance now where they would be precluded from participating from the marijuana trade because of past drug trafficking offences. So we feel that now that this is legal it is important that anyone who was convicted of a drug trafficking offence as far as marijuana is concern, not the other controlled substance, should either have their records expunge or should be allowed to participate in the legal trade of marijuana. Hon. Panton also made submissions as to aside from the previous convictions for drug related offences - she wanted to make sure that the language as far as the application process was not so onerous as to again in essence exclude those on the lowest part of the ladder, those in vulnerable communities."
