January 12, 2014

Dear Sir,

I read with interest the article about Colorado legalising marijuana, and thought at once that we should jump on the bandwagon and do the same in Bermuda. We have the example of Colorado to work with, and as we have already decriminalised the use of the drug, this seems to be an obvious next step.

The most important side effect of this move is that it would take the wind out of the sails of the gangs. We all know that drugs are what motivates gang activity, and if the drugs were legal and available at market price, gang activity would be seriously curtailed. Of course there would have to be many regulations, but another advantage would be the enormous amount of currency this would generate, to be taxed accordingly. A million dollars a day is not to be sneezed at, as it was in Colorado, and Government would have to decide how much to take in taxes.

This is an opportunity not to be missed. We already know the value of the drugs that have been found, in 2012 more than seven million dollars was seized on the island. Imagine the amount that was smuggled in and sold illegally?

This would take a great deal of thought and organisation, but would be well worth it in the end.

On another note. What is this nonsense about a few millionaires moving into Bermuda disenfranchising Bermudians? These are the guys that create jobs, and they are certainly not going to push Bermudians to the back of the line. We need all the wealth we can encourage to the island, and we have no idea if any of these well heeled individuals have any desire to come to Bermuda. Wake up PLP. It’s a big world out there.

E Raben