St Lucia: Minister for Justice and National Security- Senator Hermangild Francis announced that ICAR’s – Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari request had been rejected for the export of marijuana as a part of a humanitarian effort to SVG- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
ICAR wrote a letter on April 27 to – Senator Francis seeking an exemption to send 50lbs of marijuana to SVG as a humanitarian effort.
“Due to the result of the volcanic eruption in SVG, the Rastafarian community there, who use marijuana as a holy sacrament, want it to give them hope, courage and spiritual upliftment under such difficult times,”- according to the letter written to the minister.
According to Senator Francis, “While marijuana is legalized in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for medicinal use and religious objects, it continues to be illegal in St Lucia and we cannot allow the export of the drug.”
He added that “There is a law in St Lucia and the law formally forbids the use of marijuana drug and the planting of marijuana. Seeing that St Lucia is making headway in the direction of decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana drug.”
The Government cannot give approval for something that is illegal in our country,”
According to ICAR,- “While murder is a crime, killing is allowed under the law in challenging times in the life of a person, and as such, – good graces, tolerance, goodwill can be seen in granting the permission to export marijuana to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.”
He further cited, “The legislation is with the Attorney general, and soon this legislation would come back to the Cabinet to make a final decision. People need to understand that there is a process, and we must stick to the process despite of our beliefs.”
ICAR’s humanitarian mission also includes – food, medicines, clothing, toiletries, and sanitary products.
