MPs from both sides of the House of Assembly yesterday urged backbencher Ashfield DeVent to press ahead with a motion to debate Bermuda's drugs laws.

Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP Mark Pettingill said it's time for the Island to "get real" and acknowledge that just as many people smoke marijuana as drink alcohol — and that the latter is a more dangerous drug.

And Government backbencher Terry Lister said while he personally does not support decriminalisation of cannabis: "It will be a very good thing for the people of Bermuda to hear a quality discussion of the subject by the parliamentary leaders."

United Bermuda Party Leader Kim Swan and his Deputy Trevor Moniz both encouraged discussion on the issue, but argued it should come in the form of a bipartisan group of MPs rather than a House debate.

Further support came from former Progressive Labour Party MP Delaey Robinson, whose call for a shake-up of the Island's drugs laws fell on deaf ears a decade ago.

Earlier this week, Mr. DeVent called for a debate on drugs laws, claiming that decriminalising illegal drugs — making them available to addicts via Government — could drastically reduce profits of the underground trade and make a big dent in gang activity.

The former Housing Minister said he would consider tabling a private member's bill on the issue, if colleagues assure him he would not be speaking alone as Renee Webb did with her sexual orientation discrimination bill four years ago.

Mr. DeVent said for many years gang violence has been allowed to escalate, while politicians have avoided talking about the effects of drug abuse he's witnessed first hand in his Pembroke South East constituency.

Yesterday, defence lawyer Mr. Pettingill said one possibility would be allowing the cultivation of marijuana plants at home for personal use, telling The Royal Gazette: "One can see how there can be an argument for legislation in that area.

"Many right minded people believe that there is a sensible approach to be had in decriminalising marijuana.

"Prohibition on alcohol in the US taught us that zero tolerance simply drives the provision under ground in a criminal element. This is a matter for sensible debate.

"Alcohol is much more dangerous than marijuana. We need to get real. We have a massive amount of people that smoke marijuana; we need to stop sticking our head in the sand. It goes on, just as much as alcohol. It's certainly worth a debate.

"Congratulations to Mr. DeVent for having the guts to put that out there. We are open and prepared to discuss it and vote on it in a sensible way."

Mr. Lister said: "Firstly I do not agree with any move to decriminalise any illegal drugs. However, I do see value in a debate on the subject of decriminalisation.

"I believe a well researched and well presented discussion of the pros and cons of decriminalisation will be to the benefit of the Country.

"It will be a very good thing for the people of Bermuda to hear a quality discussion of the subject by the parliamentary leaders. Thus I would encourage Mr. DeVent to bring the motion during the next session of Parliament."

Mr. Swan said: "Drugs, clearly, have had an adverse impact on Bermuda, feeding criminal and gang activity and undermining family and individual health.

"As elected representatives of the people it is incumbent on us that we focus on challenges to the health of the community so, yes, we are willing to debate the issue.

"But the question is how effective a debate would be at this time. The subject may be more appropriate for study by a bipartisan committee of the Legislature. This is something I would first like to discuss with my colleagues before saying anything more definitive."

Mr. Moniz, another lawyer, warned a full-scale debate in the House would likely lead to politicians making comments designed to get their names in the newspaper rather than saying anything of genuine worth.

But he said of the issue: "It's something that's worthy of looking at. I would be happy to be part of a bipartisan committee. There's reform we could look at.

"I would be happy to sit with the Attorney General and anyone else to look at possible reform. The idea is that you put someone on a committee if they've got some expertise to offer. I think Ashfield has something to contribute to a committee like that because of where he comes from and the area that he represents."