What is the penalty for possession of a very small amount(5 grams) now, compared to 25 years ago? Is there mandatory sentencing for small offences?
Have stricter laws curtailed local drug use,or created more problems for families with teenagers arrested.
Is there a first offender law in the Bahamas similar to other countries, if no other offences over a certain period of years? If not,does anyone feel there should be?

Thanks for any opinions or answers.......

you bring up some good points. I feel marijuana should be decriminalized. A squad car equals about $80,000. with 2 officers in it making about $20,000 a year each arrest a teenager for a small fine, less than $500 I think. The math does not balance. Police officers need to concentrate their efforts more on the big time dealers & traffickers where they can get bigger fines...(in the thousands), in order to justify my hard earned taxes that pays their salaries. I understand there were 1,500 people remanded to Fox Hill prison for possession of drugs last year. it takes $30,000 each per year to house & feed these people. furthermore these minor crimes are taking up to much time in court clogging up the system. A drug abuser needs rehab not jail. In jail he will only learn how to become a hardened criminal. punishment for possesion of marijauna should be community service like weeding & cleaning the streets. there's certainly a lot of that to be done in this country. but maybe police officers only want to go after teenage drug users because they are too lazy or scared to earn their stripes by hard work. all they do is hide by drug dealers & when a teenager makes a purchase they make an arrest. this is easy work. they don't even bother to arrest the drug dealer! in the meantime more serious crimes are being committed that they should be more concerned about. what kinda foolishness is that??!! :what: