Most Bermudians would support decriminalising small amounts of cannabis for personal use, lawyer Charles Richardson believes. Mr. Richardson said the law has no right to "interfere with a man's liberty" as he entered the debate on marijuana decriminalisation while confirming his interest in becoming a Progressive Labour Party MP.

The high-profile barrister — who admitted drug possession after 8.2 grams of cannabis and 0.71 grams of cannabis resin were found in his home last year — predicted discussion on drugs laws will become a political hot potato in the coming months.

And he said while people may not want to talk about it publicly, many are privately in favour of relaxing drug laws so users wouldn't be punished for possessing small amounts.

Mr. Richardson, who served seven years in prison after shooting a man in the stomach in the Spinning Wheel in 1995, says that, now rehabilitated, his experiences would help him tackle unprecedented levels of gun violence as a parliamentarian.

He also said the public is crying out for a new crop of younger politicians to replace some of the long-serving veterans in the House of Assembly, having grown tired of some of the rhetoric from an old guard with "huge chips on their shoulders".

Speaking in the light of his cannabis conviction this summer, Mr. Richardson told The Royal Gazette: "People in Bermuda fall into three categories. Either they smoke marijuana, they have smoked marijuana or they don't care if you smoke marijuana in your own home. Ninety-nine percent of people fall into that category.

"Similarly, 99 percent would be unwilling to speak up in public and say I fall into one of those categories. But they would be willing to go and vote anonymously about it in a ballot box.

"I believe this Country is about to have a debate about the merits of decriminalisation of small amounts of cannabis. I think that issue is going to be a political hot potato.

"Not legalisation, but decriminalisation of small amounts for personal use. Most Bermudians would support that."

Mr. Richardson is understood to be one of scores of potential MPs — possibly more than 100 — on a list of approved candidates started earlier this year by the PLP.

A Harrington Sound resident, he could fight in Hamilton South, a traditional UBP seat currently held by Darius Tucker, now an Independent after quitting the official Opposition last year.

Mr. Richardson pulled out of the running in that seat before the last General Election to concentrate on his legal career, but now says he is more established and has the freedom to get into politics.

"I don't necessarily agree Hamilton South is an unwinnable seat for the PLP," he said.

Mr. Tucker beat PLP candidate Wayne Caines by 127 votes last time, but Mr. Richardson argued: "There would be at least 100, minimum, young people in that constituency who do not vote and have not voted because none of the candidates have been appealing to them."

The PLP's growing wave of young contenders has been heartened by the success of Senator Marc Bean and Jhon Gibbons, both in their mid-30s, at branch elections this week.

Mr. Richardson, 39, said: "If they feel the way I do, they are tired of sitting around watching people with huge chips on their shoulders."

He said he understands the frustrations of many of the older generation who are bitter because of racism, but he added: "The problem is I haven't had the same experiences as that generation has had."

In June, Works Minister Derrick Burgess hit the headlines by telling UBP MP Trevor Moniz during a House debate: "You never thought that you would have to come to slaves' children for an answer."

Mr. Richardson reflected: "I understand the frustration but I don't approve of that kind of verbal message.

"We have to understand the experiences that these people had have shaped them — and thank God for their efforts — but I just think a fresh perspective is really needed to rejuvenate Bermuda politically, socially and racially."

Mr. Richardson has been in the news this year both as a defence lawyer — in cases including the Hamilton Parish mob attack and defending gang affiliate Raymond (Yankee) Rawlins — as well as facing an allegation of criminal libel against a detective via Facebook.

Describing crime as the number one issue facing the Island, he said: "Not only have I served time, if crime were a building I have seen it from all angles.

"From the foundation of committing crime, being prosecuted and convicted, incarcerated and educating myself, and as a lawyer in the courts.

"The crime we see is a symptom of other things that are wrong in Bermuda. There is still a growing gap between the haves and the have-nots, a disparity of earnings between blacks and whites."

Pointing to a breakdown in the family unit and moral values, he said: "We are not going to end this war against crime by using legislation on sentencing powers, or beating up parents, or shipping witnesses overseas.

"All of these are after-the-fact measures that come into effect after the shot has been fired.

"The war has to be won in every bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, church hall and backyard in Bermuda."

Some argue Mr. Richardson should not be allowed into politics because of his criminal past.

But he argued: "For that to be an acceptable way of thinking, once you have committed a crime you have given up.

"That makes no sense. If that's the case, Nelson Mandela had no right to be president of South Africa because he was a terrorist.

"There's something about that thinking that suggests when a man commits a crime he crosses the line that separates him from other human beings."