This Country Legalized Rastafarian Sacramental Marijuana Use And More Weed Updates Around The World

Western Australia: Preparing For The First Medical Marijuana Health Retreat

Western Australia might see the first marijuana health retreat in the town of Denmark in a few years, as The Raintree Estate just applied for community and government consultation aiming to develop a $5 million resort.

According to Perth Now, entrepreneur Stephen Birkbeck believes in the healing power of medicinal marijuana treatments and thinks it could attract visitors who are looking to resolve issues with sleep, blood pressure, chronic pain, obesity and anxiety.

“It’s an exciting time in Australia. We’re hearing that medical practitioners are now able to alleviate and eradicate symptoms from patients who may have suffered for decades with chronic pain or mood disorders using medicinal marijuana,” Birkbeck said.

The idea is to have a luxury day spa with marijuana treatments, without the need to change any laws, as medical cannabis has been legal in Western Australia for around nine years. Since it is, however, regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, products with cannabidiol can only be obtained in pharmacies and with precipitation. Therefore, Birkbeck aims to hire prescribing doctors at the resort who will assess their conditions and confirm if they need pharmaceutical marijuana.

Singapore: Up To 30 Years In Prison For Possession Of Marijuana

In March, amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Constitution were approved in Singapore Parliament creating a new legislative framework for psychoactive substances by criminalizing their production, import, export, possession, and consumption. Under this new law, and substance that is abused for a high will be defined as a psychoactive substance, excluding caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and health products.

The law, which was recently enacted also proposes up to 30 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane for possession of eight types of narcotics, including marijuana reported The Straits Times.

Individuals caught in possession of less than 330g of marijuana could get up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $20,000. Offenders caught with somewhere between 330g and 500g of marijuana could get between 10 and 20 years in prison and between five and 10 strokes of the cane. Those charged with possession of more than 500g of weed could get between 20 and 30 years in prison and between 10 and 15 strokes of the cane.

The harsher penalties for drug possession come as a way of addressing the global drug situation, which, according to the reports is more severe than before.

While, previously possession of any drug regardless of weight carried a maximum of 10 years in jail or a fine of up to $20,000 or both, the death penalty was served for drug trafficking. Just recently, two men have been executed for smuggling more than one kilogram of cannabis.

Antigua And Barbuda: Rastafarian Sacramental Marijuana Use Legalized

Antigua and Barbuda is permitting Rastafarians to legally use marijuana for ritual purposes, becoming one of the first Caribbean nations to do so, writes the Associated Press.

The sovereign country consisting of two islands, recently amended its laws to allow marijuana for Rastafarian sacramental use and also cultivation for ritual purposes honoring and respecting the long tradition, culture and religion of the Rastafari people.

“We pride ourselves as an all-inclusive government, and we believe that we have to provide a space for everyone at the table, irrespective of their religion, whatever denomination, whatever faith they may practice,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne said. 

This law change comes 5 years after Antigua and Barbuda decriminalized marijuana.

“The Rastafari movement preaches brotherly love. And I’m talking about the purity of the religion here. We do know that there are some who may claim to be Rastafari, but may not necessarily practice the values of Rastafari. But if we look in them strictly at the values of Rastafari, they’re promoting … brotherly love, good health, even their diet, which is plant-based, is something that can help all of humanity,” Browne said.

Barbados: Individuals With Minor Drug Offenses Can Participate In Weed Industry 

Senator Shanika Roberts-Odle, CEO of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA), confirmed that people convicted of minor drug offenses will be allowed to participate in the medical marijuana industry. 

Her comments come as a response to attorney-at-law Rasheed Belgrave who claims that under the Medical Cannabis Industry Act, prior offenders were not allowed to participate in the industry, writes Barbados Today. 

Under the current law, people who have been convicted of an offense under the Drug Abuse Act and Instrumentalities of Crimes Act, or any similar offense related to illegal drugs, are not allowed to take part in the medical cannabis industry.

According to Roberts-Odle, indictable offenses carry serious consequences and are not treated the same as infringements.

“The implication that an indictable offense is an infringement is very misleading. The example made that ‘if the police report me today for speeding, that means I can’t drive tomorrow or for the rest of my life in Barbados’, is a nonsensical example," stated Sen. Roberts-Odle. "The offenses that restrict persons from entering the industry are serious criminal offenses and I am aware that the good gentleman knows that these are very serious offenses that carry serious consequences, not just for the person who has done them but for our society that has been affected by those actual acts that have been carried out.”

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