Published 27 June 2023
Basseterre
Buckie Got It Media Source
NEW LAWS ALERT: Here are summaries of the Bills passed in the National Assembly on May 25 and June 20, 2023.
NEVIS ISLAND ADMINISTRATION (CIVIL PROCEEDINGS) ACT, 2023
By this New Act, the Nevis Island Administration, a legal body established by the Constitution, now has the explicit legislative power to sue and be sued in its own name. The NIA has sued and been sued since 1983, but the court recently ruled that there was no legislative authority to support that long standing practice. All documents required to be served on the NIA for the purpose of any civil proceedings against the NIA shall be served on the Legal Department of the Office of the Premier.
CIVIL PROCEEDINGS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2023
This ancillary Amendment simply clarifies that the NIA can sue and be sued in its own name with respect to civil proceedings.
RASTAFARI RIGHTS RECOGNITION ACT, 2023
This New Act gives Rastafari groups the right to register (free) with the Ministry of Ecclesiastical and Faith-Based Affairs in order to access various tax and other concessions and to be licenced, free of charge, to participate in the Medicinal Cannabis Industry. Registered Rastafari groups can also LEGALLY cultivate, harvest, dry, trim, cure or possess and smoke cannabis as a sacrament for their upliftment or edification at their places of assembly.
FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE (CANNABIS) ACT, 2023
This New Act gives Rasta and other persons who use cannabis for their personal belief-based upliftment or edification the opportunity to apply for a licence issued by the Ministry of Ecclesiastical and Faith-Based Affairs in order to LEGALLY possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis, cultivate up to 5 cannabis plants in a secured private place at their home and smoke cannabis in designated public areas. Licencing is free until December 22, 2023 (EC$100 per year thereafter)
DRUGS… (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2023
This Amendment decriminalizes, and therefore makes it a ticketable offence (for a person not holding a licence issued under the Freedom of Conscience (Cannabis) Act, 2023) to possess of up to 2 ounces of cannabis, to cultivate up to 5 cannabis plants in a secured private place at their home and to smoke cannabis outside designated public areas. It also makes exemptions from criminal action against persons issued with cannabis-related licences by the Chief Medical Officer (to import certain goods), the Medicinal Cannabis Authority and the Ministry of Ecclesiastical and Faith-Based Affairs.
SMOKING (DESIGNATED AREAS) ACT, 2023
This New Act allows the Chief Medical Officer to designate certain public places for smoking (of all types). It also makes it a ticketable offence to smoke outside designated smoking areas (EC$500), which must be clearly demarcated with signage. Business places and event promoters have until October 31, 2023 to become licenced if they wish to have designated smoking areas at their businesses or events.
Visit www.CannabisClaritySKN.com. or Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @ganjaclarityskn for more information on the last 4 laws referenced above.
