by Staff Writer
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN) — Cromwell Henry, Superintendent of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, is appealing to persons to discontinue careless smoking in public places.
“I wish to bring to you another matter of concern to us … It is the indiscriminate smoking of marijuana in public places especially at events and on street corners.”
“This practice is not only illegal but it affects those around you who do not smoke or who may have health issues that are aggravated by the smoke”, Henry said, adding that “while the possession of small amounts of cannabis has been decriminalized, its use in public is still a criminal offense.”
Section 6A (b) of the Drugs Amendment Act 2019 states “a person found smoking cannabis or cannabis resin in any public place, not including a registered place of worship of the Rastafarian Faith or any place authorized by this Act and any Regulations made under this act, shall be issued with a fixed penalty notice for one thousand dollars or in default of payment, shall be liable to up to twenty hours of community service, or in default to a term of five days imprisonment”.
Superintendent Henry was at the time speaking at the National Emergency Operations Centre COVID-19 press briefing on Wednesday, January 20.
