Cannabis Bill out for public comment as majority in Parliament gives it the nod

Johnathan Paoli

THE Select Committee on Security and Justice has called on all role players and stakeholders to submit comments on the Cannabis for Private Purpose Bill.

The purposes of the Bill are, among other things, to respect the right to privacy of an adult person to use or possess cannabis; regulate the use or possession of cannabis by an adult person; and provide for an alternative manner in which to address the issue of prohibited use or dealing in cannabis by children, with due regard to the best interest of the child.

The Bill also prohibits the dealing in cannabis and provides for the expungement of criminal records of persons convicted of possession or use of cannabis or dealing in cannabis on the basis of a presumption.

Earlier this month, the National Assembly approved the bill which has been in the works since the country decriminalised private cannabis use