Bahamas to legalize medical and religious cannabis use

Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis announced on Monday his support for a series of bills aimed at legalizing cannabis for medical and religious purposes and decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis.

Addressing Parliament, Davis endorsed the measures designed to regulate the cultivation, sale, and use of marijuana and related products within the country’s borders, emphasizing the health and safety of Bahamians.

“For years, Bahamians have called for an administration to have the courage to step up and take this issue on in a decisive and responsible manner,” Davis stated. “While many other countries, including nations within our region like Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados, have taken steps toward decriminalization and legalization for medical use, Bahamians were left wondering when it would be our turn to modernize our local approach to cannabis.”

Davis noted that national dialogue on this issue has been ongoing for nearly a decade, with significant progress marked by the Marijuana Commission’s preliminary report in January 2020 and its final report in August 2021. The Commission’s research indicated widespread public support for the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes.

“It was clear that the times had changed, and it was time for our laws to change as well,” Davis said. “Today, the wait is over. We are taking action on behalf of all of the people who simply wanted the ability to legally consume medical cannabis to help them with their medical conditions.”