Pinder: Draft bill should get to Cabinet by end of March 

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamian ownership of production and manufacturing of cannabis, hemp and its byproducts, such as CBD, will be a key focus in the Davis administration’s cannabis bill, according to Attorney General Ryan Pinder.

The bill is expected to be finalized and submitted to Cabinet for consideration before the end of this month.

In an interview with Eyewitness News, Attorney General Ryan Pinder said the Office of the Attorney General went beyond the scope of the region and based its bill on a global context, taking into consideration regimes from across the world.

He made clear the forefront purpose of the bill will be to empower hundreds, if not thousands, of Bahamians and create new ownership in the industry, while ensuring the highest standards from safety to regulation.

“Cabinet will probably want some consultation on the matter, but the draft should be in a position to get to Cabinet by the end of March, as planned,” Pinder said.

“We’re benchmarking against every country in the world and not focusing our benchmark to Caribbean nations only.

“That’s why we’re taking the initiative and the time we said we want to take, because we want it to be as comprehensive a piece of legislation as practical and progressive as possible.”

The implementation of regularized cannabis has resulted in major economic stimuli in some countries.

According to the attorney general, the legislation will pave the way beyond production and export to local manufacturing, which will be Bahamian-led.

“Clearly, our focus is on the economic advancement of Bahamians within the sector,” Pinder said.

It is an opportunity for Bahamians to participate in a new economic model that is viable and we’re in a position directly where we have a lot of goodwill and benefit to The Bahamas.

– Attorney General Ryan Pinder

“A fundamental difference, at least with respect to what we are looking to do versus what Marijuana Commission issued in their report — they did not seem to address the economic opportunities.”

He added: “You also want to champion, in my opinion — again, all of this has to go to Cabinet for policy consideration — but you want to champion also industrial hemp, which is non-THC based, which can be used for a number of industrial products but also is the foundational element for CBD, which, as you would know, is a rather popular, kind of holistic treatment, granted it’s not prescribed medically.

“But it’s still very popular in addressing matters such anxiety, sleeplessness and…it’s good for focusing the brain and all of those other types of benefits that are not THC-related.

“So, we’re advancing a framework of industrial hemp in parallel with marijuana…”

As it relates to the economy, Pinder said while a regulated industry in The Bahamas is not expected to be a panacea to remove national debt or “make everyone millionaires”, it will contribute to the economic standing of The Bahamas in a significant way.

“It’s definitely a positive contributor to the treasury, but also for economic opportunities for Bahamians,” he said.

“It is an opportunity for Bahamians to participate in a new economic model that is viable and we’re in a position directly where we have a lot of goodwill and benefit to The Bahamas.”