Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit is defending Government’s proposal to protect the nation’s youth by raising the age limit for alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use, as well as gambling.
Marijuana misuse among young people has been identified as a major problem, and it’s one which the Government is seeking to address through the Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026.
Speaking on TTT’s Focus: People and Politics Programme on Saturday, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, Vandana Mohit, shared what she has observed among children in state care.
“In terms of cannabis we are seeing before us the damages being done to our children with cannabis use. What I will share with you this morning as well, cannabis use, some of the children in state care, we see where they are involved in gangs, they are threatening their parents, they are threatening other persons, to kill. And when you have this before you, you have to take measures. Alcohol yes is one thing, but drug abuse or any type of substance abuse drug abuse in particular is could ruin your life.”
Minister Mohit broached the topic of youth programmes. She said those programmes, which have been the subject of conversation, were in jeopardy long before they were reviewed by the Government.
“Now these programmes existed but yes they existed but the success levels of it in terms of you know… you get a certificate, following the certificate, what do you do as a young person. And these are the questions we have to ask. Yes these programmes existed but they are under review and there’s nothing wrong with reviewing programmes. In addition to that you asked about interventions earlier, Minister of Education, Minister of Tertiary Education, they have MIC program, YTEPP programs happening now as we speak.”
The Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026, which was passed in the Lower House last week, is up for debate in the Senate next week.