Tonight, The National Evangelical Association of Belize is stepping up the pressure on the Briceno Administration and specifically Kareem Musa, the Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries. They are objecting to any sort of legislative progress on GOB's Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill of 2021.
That draft piece of legislation was first tabled by the Government about 4 months ago, and in it, the Briceno Administration contemplates the establishment and strict regulation of a local cannabis and industrial hemp market.
If it is passed in the House, this amendment will legalize marijuana by establishing a series of legal permits such as a cultivation license, a delivery license, a dispensary license, a processing license, a restaurant consumption lounge license, and even a Cannabis Program Identification Card for recreational marijuana consumers. The Evangelical Association continues to insist that it's a big mistake.
In this press release from today, they say they are, quote, "deeply concerned that Government involvement in the marijuana business means Government promotion of marijuana use and development. We have been trying to communicate our concerns to the Hon. Minister of New Growth Ministries… but we have not been granted any consultation. We have also reached out to Cabinet on this issue…
The NEAB and churches in Belize are raising a red flag! If you give cartels an inch, they will take a mile. In the last year in Mexico, 91 politicians have been killed in the drug war with cartels, not to mention the many murdered judges who have opposed the cartels. Belize should not open its doors to legalized marijuana." End quote.
We did send the statement to the Minister of Home Affairs - and we hope to get a comment from him sometime soon.
