February 22, 2021
Landmark Legislation to License and Regulate Cannabis Activities Passes the House of Assembly Without Objection
On Friday, landmark legislation set to regulate and license all activities involving the production, supply, research, import, export and transportation of cannabis and medicinal cannabis and the establishment of a Cannabis Licensing Authority passed the House of Assembly without objection. Although stating they would at the beginning of the debate, the OBA did NOT call for a vote.
In leading the debate in the House of Assembly the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform said, “It provides fair and equitable access to participate in the proposed market at a time when the economy and families are suffering and searching for new economic opportunities”.
This does not mean that the Cannabis Bill is automatically enacted into law! The Bill will be debated in the Senate. If passed by the Senate, it is then presented to the Governor for Royal Assent. Once a bill has been granted Royal Assent, it becomes law.
“This legislation will provide a regulated cannabis regime, which will provide business opportunities for Bermudians in the cannabis industry,” said Dennis Lister III, JP, MP. “It was designed to empower Bermudians to have ownership in this new industry. It was designed after consultation with the community at large to ensure that the public had the opportunity to express their views and ideas. It was designed to protect our children and the vulnerable.”
“Bermuda, this is a win for entrepreneurs, it is a win for persons in need of medicinal cannabis, it is a win for our tourism industry and it is a win for those who have been victimized by the system. We urge the Senate to pass the legislation and for the Governor to give her Royal Assent,” MP Lister III concluded
The bill is scheduled to be debated in the Senate on March 3rd. Public Relations Officer Progressive Labour Party