IS IT LEGAL OR NOT??

For those who are still confused with the terminologies legal as against decriminalized. Once something is allowed by law, it becomes legal. However, some actions may have limited legal status. Decriminalization refers to ‘the action or process of ceasing to treat something as illegal or as a criminal offence” (Google).

Driving on almost any roadway in Trinidad and Tobago is considered as legal. However, there are limitations to driving. You must be of a certain age, the holder of a valid driver’s permit and insurance policy, you must not drive over the speed limit and many other conditionalities apply. However, would you say that driving is not legal in Trinidad and Tobago as some are now saying regarding the amendment to the dangerous drug act?

An action can be illegal but not criminalized, such as road traffic offences. For such offences, you can be charged but you don’t receive a stain on your criminal record. You can have a hundred road traffic offences and you can walk into a police station and request a police certificate of good character and get it, once you don’t have any other criminal infringements. This is what diferenciates between a criminal and non criminal offence.

The point must be made again, “Once you cannot be charged for engaging in an action, it becomes legal. Some may argue based on limitations such as quantity and age. However, apart from driving limitations as explained before, Alcohol and Tobacco has similar limitations. Once we understand that. We should then ask ourselves, is Alcohol and Tobacco legal to consume in Trinidad and Tobago? If your answer is yes, then ask, what is the difference with Marijuana?

The terminologies may have had some people confused because, when the drive to regularize the use of Marijuana first started, the push was to decriminalize it. However what we have is legalization with limitations……. Just like many other actions.

It remains illegal for children to consume or have in their possession any quantity of Marijuana, as Senator Paul Richards states in the accompanying article (Screenshot). However, 30 grams and under or four Marijuana trees has become perfectly legal to possess in Trinidad and Tobago.