And from prison to the National Assembly, though the budget debate has wrapped up for the evening, the parliamentarians are still at the House of Representatives, where they will be discussing the Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Control And Licensing Bill. This is its second reading in the House following consultations and amendments, and just like the very first time it was introduced, the churches are pushing back. Today NEAB issued a release saying they stand in solidarity with the Catholic Church, and that they want a referendum so that the people of Belize can decide whether this bill passes. That's because they claim that marijuana will only have adverse effects on our economy, our safety, and our health. Former president of NEAB, Lance Lewis, spoke to the media about their position today.
Lance Lewis, Pastor/Former President, NEAB
"We are, I would want to use the word, vehemently oppose to the passing of this bill, because it will make Marijuana much more easy to access and will create much more problem for some, money for some and poverty for many. We think that there are many other ways of getting money for the economy, we have agriculture, we have so many things going - tourism that we do not need to plant a product that we are sure of the effects, because I've seen what it has done in place like Colorado United States, wherever. It has destroyed communities, it might have brought in money, but that money is at a high price and that price is the price of life. We are looking at other in Mexico, the cartels have move into various parts of Mexico taking control and people who are in that will want to get more and if Belize opens the door, they will come in and for sure we will be destroyed. Our children are already affected by the pandemic, now coming under the heels of the pandemic you're going to pass this bill to make Marijuana affordable or a commodity that is pushing for the country. It will make it worse for our vulnerable children, worse for our homes, make more crimes on our streets - it will destroy our nation and I would want to say the time has come for us to ask the government to please desist from going further on this bill. Drop it and drop it now!"
According to the release from the Catholic Churches, they claim that some of the negative effects passing the bill will have are a decrease in family tourism, growth of the black market, increased deaths due to accidents, suicide and depression, increase family and street violence, increase school drop-outs, and much more.
