Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC has revealed that the government is moving to raise the legal age for alcohol and cannabis consumption to 21 and the legal gambling age to 25.
This, she said, is being done while also laying the groundwork for a regulated medicinal cannabis industry.
Speaking in the Lower House on Friday, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said the government will be seeking to amend seven pieces of legislation during this Parliamentary session, aimed at increasing the age limits for certain activities.
“For the sale, purchase, possession or consumption of intoxicating liquor or tobacco to change that age from 18 to 21. For the sale, purchase, possession or consumption of cannabis from 18 to 21, and in respect of gambling from 21 to 25.”
She noted that these age limit changes are part of a larger effort to protect young people from early addiction.
“We recall that the former Prime Minister, Mr. Manning, was very much against, the late former Prime Minister was very much against gambling. And the research is showing that age is very important, at which children, young people get caught up into the gambling and so on.”
The Prime Minister also listed several challenges encountered by police and regulators with the current cannabis laws.
“Since the former government decriminalised cannabis in 2019, the T&T Police Service raised enforcement and regulatory challenges that have hindered effective policing of the new laws. Lack of clarity regarding four plants per person, lack of guidelines to ensure cultivation only happens in secure private spaces, the need to prohibit cannabis use in public places and several other key issues have been raised.”
As part of the reform, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said the government plans to establish a new Licensing Authority dedicated to medicinal cannabis products.
“That Act will seek to provide control of the handling of cannabis for specific purposes, for the establishment of cannabis for specific purposes, establishing an Authority, a Licensing Association for cannabis.”