Bill to protect marijuana users
Caribbean L 6 ife, April 12–18, 2019 BQ
PATIENTS’
CHOICE
RATED & AWARDED BY PATIENTS
SM
Trinidad’s Minister of National Security,
Stuart Richard Young announced
in the past week plans for government
to acquire 250 hand guns for officers to
carry round the clock to protect themselves.
The move comes just two months
after cabinet had also bought 250 “stab
vests” for officers to wear to protect themselves
while on duty.
“It shocked me that the prison of ficers
did not have stab vests in the en viron
ment, we’ve de liv ered that and have
im me di ate ly be gan the pro cure ment of
more,” the minister said. “Our of fi cers
have been un der threat on many oc casions
and many of them have died over
the course of the last few years. At least
these keep and car ry firearms will al low
us some lev el of pro tec tion against these
peo ple who con stant ly threat en our lives,”
he told Guardian Media.
These unprecedented but novel moves
by the security ministry come as governments
in Trinidad and Jamaica are
battling to keep the murder rates down.
For the year so far, Jamaica police have
recorded an astonishing 360 murders
while Trinidad remains on course for
another tough year with 130 so far. Jamaica
counted 1,287 murders last year and
1,641 in 2017. Trinidad followed with 516.
That tally was only second to 550 in 2008,
easily the highest number killed in any
year in recorded history.
Young said that the officers will be
given guns to protect themselves in the
wake of blatant attacks on officers, mostly
at their homes. Contracts for the weapons
have been finalized and these should be in
holsters and in the possession of guards as
early as next month.
“We will look at those un der threat
and who cur rent ly do not have firearms,
so those would be the first per sons to be
is sued. And there will be some lev el of
as sess ment be fore is su ing the firearms to
per sons. We do have a pol i cy as re lates to
is su ing of keep and car ry and will ad here
to that pol i cy,” the minister noted.
Battling crime
in Trinidad
Continued from Page 1
ingredient in marijuana, in such prospective
employee’s system as a condition
of employment.
Exceptions are provided for certain
safety and security sensitive jobs, and
those tied to a federal or state contract
or grant, Williams said.
He said cannabis accounts for about
half of all positive results on drug
tests, adding that failed tests lead to
“an inability for many to advance in
their careers.”
The public advocate said as many
as 70 percent of large employers utilize
pre-employment drug screenings,
encompassing as many as 40 percent
of jobs.
Opponents of testing argue that
in many cases, pre-employment testing
for THC does more harm than
marijuana itself, with applicants being
rejected for a positive test, or declining
to apply to jobs that require it.
“This kind of screening is separate
from any restrictions preventing
usage while on the job, and so
rather than improving work quality
it depletes the overall talent pool of
applicants,” Williams said, adding that
over half of Americans report at least
trying marijuana.
He said a majority of New Yorkers
support the legalization of marijuana
for recreational use.
“Testing isn’t a deterrent to using
marijuana; it’s an impediment to
opportunity that dates back to the
Reagan era — a war on drugs measure
that’s now a war on workers,”
Williams said. “Prospective employers
don’t test for alcohol, so marijuana
should be no different.
“But, in no way, does this bill justify
individuals going to work under
the influence,” he added. “We need
to be creating more access points for
employment, not less. And, as we push
for legalization on a state level, it makes
absolutely no sense that we’re keeping
people from finding jobs or advancing
their careers because of marijuana use.
“This bill is a step in the right direction,
and I intend to continue to push
for this protection to apply to more
New Yorkers across a wider range of
professions,” Williams continued.
The bill is one in a series of marijuana
justice measures pushed by the
Council’s Progressive Caucus, which
also includes legislation passed on
Tuesday by Council Member Donovan
Richards (D-Queens) that bans the
Department of Probation from conducting
drug tests for marijuana.
Williams has previously passed resolutions
calling for the New York City
Housing Authority (NYCHA) to add
marijuana usage to its list of “overlooked
offenses” and calling for the
expungement of records for marijuana
related offenses.
Continued from Page 1
Trinidad’s Minister of National Security,
Stuart Richard Young.
Offi ce of the Prime Minister, Trinidad