Criminal records for marijuana to be expunged – Drew

Leader of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), Dr. Terrance Drew plans expunging the criminal records of those jailed for marijuana possession, he told a party rally ahead of today’s election.

Drew’s decision to wipe the slate of those who served time for cannabis possession was reached after mounting concerns by residents about the future of young men put away because of the hemp plant.

“I want to assure you that we will expunge your criminal record and make it clean again,” the SKNLP prime ministerial candidate said.

He said jailing young men for small amounts of marijuana possession isn’t right. This, he noted will certainly affect them later in life, His government will eschew this.

“St Kitts and Nevis are presently sending people to work on the marijuana farms (overseas). So, I say tonight, if we can send our men and women off to Canada to work on their fields, then we can allow them to work here and develop what we have. We can certainly create jobs, increase our economy and create businesses to reduce unemployment,” Drew reasoned.

“It makes no sense to destroy someone’s (life) for possession of small amounts of marijuana. It makes no sense.  None whatsoever! In privileged communities in the USA, they don’t lock them up and spoil their records. You send them to rehabilitate and help then to get over it, so that they can have a chance in life.”

“Why then should we condemn our young people so early in life for a small possession of marijuana? That is why it makes sense to grow it,” Drew continued.

As Prime Minister, Dr Drew, a Cuba and US-trained medical specialist, intends to have the relevant legislation put in place to grow marijuana legally so that the country can also generate much-needed revenue for the Caribbean Federation.