Senior Police Officers give opinion on decriminalization of marijuana

Late last month, the nation learnt via a press release from the Government of Belize's Ministry of National Security that it had authorized a committee to look into the decriminalization of marijuana.�Chairman of the committee and former Minister of Police, Dough Sing, told the media that the committee had been organized some time ago and is considering decriminalizing around 10grams of marijuana. The discussions have been ongoing on social media, radio talk shows and television. Plus TV's Louis Wade has added to the public discourse and while the three officers in command for the Cayo district was on Rise and Shine last week; the marijuana matter was discussed.

Chester Williams - Officer In Command San Ignacio and Santa Elena
The term that is used is decriminalization, some people tend to have a misconception between the word decriminalization and legalization. Based on what I've heard, what is being proposed is that rather than sending somebody to prison automatic who is caught with a small quantity of marijuana, they will be taken to court and the court will institute a fine, now that fine, if you do not pay that fine by a particular time given to you by the court, then the court will take out what is called a commitment warrant for you and you will still go to prison. Now, what is the case right now? Right now the case is, if you are caught with a small quantity of marijuana, you go to court, the court slaps you with a fine and give you a time to pay, if you do not pay within the particular time you go to prison.
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There has been a common misconception of what the committee is trying to do as many believe that persons will be allowed to smoke marijuana freely and have greater amounts of marijuana on their person and not be charged. Williams says not so.�

Chester Williams - Officer In Command San Ignacio and Santa Elena�
Some people tends to want to believe that the proposed amendment to the law will allow people to have 10grams of marijuana on their possession or will allow people to smoke marijuana openly in public. That is not the case, if you are caught even, let's say for example the government decides to decriminalize marijuana if you are caught with 0.01grams of cannabis you will still be arrested and charged because the law will still remain for possession of control drugs, it will still be a controlled drug, so the law will still be there to govern that, to govern any person who have in their possession any control drug will still be subject to be arrested� and charged by the police and taken to court. The only difference that is being proposed is that rather than the court instituting a imprisonment, incarceration in the first instance, you will be allowed to pay a fine, and if you can't pay the fine, you still go to prison.
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Officer in Charge for the City of Belmopan Police formations says that he believe it's going to open a door to more illegal activities and users.�

Alvan Gentle - OIC City of Belmopan
I do believe that although Mr. Williams right said that people will still be held accountable but then at the same time I believe that there will be some people who will take that as a license so to speak to go and get involved with this sort of activity, which will and does and will continue to have an effect on our social life as such. Young people out there, I believe and like I said this is my opinion, I believe there will be more young people more brazen in the schools, at home, everywhere because yes although they know that does not hinder the police from arresting and charging you but then you know what I believe that they will say, okay well, maybe I just get a little slap on the wrist or I just get a little caution as such, but if there is not a deterrent as such, if there is not a way of saying you know what if you do this, this is what will happen to you, no if, buts or maybe then people will abuse, like anything else.
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If you want to be involved in the decision making Citizens can make comments to the committee via an email address [email protected]. Plus TV also encourages its viewers to copy their comments to [email protected] so that we could get a firsthand perspective of what Belizeans are telling the Decriminalization Committee. The deadline to have your say in the matter is at the end of this month.

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