Bermuda: Cannabis

(asked on 2nd June 2023) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will review the decision to recommend the withholding of Assent to the Bermuda Cannabis Licensing Bill 2022.


Answered by
David Rutley Portrait
David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 12th June 2023

The decision to reserve the Bermuda Cannabis Licencing Bill for the signification of Her Majesty was made by the Governor of Bermuda acting in accordance with her Constitutional role, as it appeared to her to be inconsistent with the UK's international obligations. The former Foreign Secretary then considered the Bill and concluded that, as drafted, it was inconsistent with international obligations held by the UK and Bermuda under UN conventions. On that basis, assent could not legitimately be given.

The UK is deeply committed to working in partnership with Bermuda and remains available and willing to discuss new proposals on cannabis legislation, to find a way forward that works for Bermuda whilst also remaining within the scope of existing international obligations.

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