Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Violation Tickets) Regulations, 2019
| Date Gazetted: | March 16th, 2019 |
| Sector(s) Affected: | Services |
| Specific sub-sector: | Public |
| S.I. No.: | 28 of 2019 |
Following the recent decriminalization of the marijuana via the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2017, the regulations, “Gazetted” on March 16th, 2019, implement a $100 fine on any person who is found in violation of the Act.
Under the new regulation, an offender is to pay the fine within 15 calendar days from the date of issuance of the ticket. The fine is to be paid to the Treasury, District Sub-treasury, or any Magistrate’s court, and the fee increases by $10 each day it remains unpaid.
If the violator has not paid the fine within 30 days or has not requested a court hearing as prescribed by Regulation 8, he or she shall be summoned to court.
Also, if a violator refuses to cooperate at the time of issuance of a violation ticket, that person is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500 for every offence. As outlined in Regulation 11, this class of offense includes acts such as supplying false information to the “authorized officer” issuing the ticket; refusing to give the “authorized officer” his name or address; and of course, refusing to receiving the ticket from the officer.
The monies collected by way of fines should be earmarked to the National Drug Abuse Control Council if the offence is committed within town limits. If, however, the office was committed outside the town limits, the funds are to be credited to the Consolidate Revenue Fund.
Additionally, Regulation 10 (2) assigns the funds to specific purposes. These include providing funding for counseling to be given to persons who are “affected by the misuse of cannabis”. It provides funds for the “securing [of] proper facilities and services for the treatment, rehabilitation, and aftercare of such persons.”
Similarly, the Regulation calls for the funds to be used to educate the public on the dangers of misusing cannabis, as well as for promoting co-operation among organizations that, in the opinion of the Council, has a part “to play in dealing with the social problems connected with the misuse of cannabis.”
