Ease up on marijuana

July 1, 2009

Dear Sir,

Could you please explain to our politicians and the US Consulate that if Bermuda did not have such draconian laws for marijuana possession we would not have so many people on the US stop list. Thousands of Bermudians have been convicted of simple marijuana possession and therefore are on the US stop-list. The main aim of the any government should be reduce the harm that drugs cause on society. Marijuana is less life threatening than alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs. The person caught speeding at 80 kph is far more dangerous to society than the young man busted for possessing a small amount of marijuana, yet the convicted speeder receives a simple monetary fine and the marijuana user gets a criminal record and is put on the US stop list.

Bermuda must have an unwritten policy, if not a law, that police do not arrest people for minor marijuana possession.

TALKING SENSI

Southampton