Young people shouldn’t “find an iron wall in front of them for the rest of their lives” just because they’ve been caught with a spliff.Government Senator Jonathan Smith said the law shouldn’t come down so hard on young people who have been caught with cannabis.The former Police Commissioner told the Senate that those with minor drug offences “needed to be given a chance”. He said being barred from entering the United States was standing in the way of many people getting an education.Sen Smith, who is junior minister for national security, was discussing Government’s plans to reform penalties for certain drug crimes, which was highlighted in the Throne Speech earlier this month. He said: “How many of our young Bermudians are not able to fulfill their dreams because the opportunity to travel to the US has been cut off. We’re going to tackle this. We have to give them a chance.“I’m not condoning drugs but I don’t agree with a criminal conviction that puts an iron wall in front of them for the rest of their lives.” Sen Smith’s comments came after Government Senate Leader Kim Wilson called it “a travesty” that people’s personal choices meant they were unable to go to the US to be educated or for medical reasons. She added: “This government is committed to looking at that”.Sen Smith then went on to criticise national security initiatives mentioned in the One Bermuda Alliances Reply to the Throne Speech. He said the Opposition party’s plan for full-time parish constables was suggested with no details of where the funding would come from. Sen Smith said using shot spotters to identify the exact spot a gun was fired was “a nice idea but not a priority” adding “the police would say ‘great idea, but we need other things more’.”The Throne Speech Reply states the need for an expanded CCTV camera system that is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.But Sen Smith said Bermuda has had CCTV cameras since 1997 and they were already monitored 24/7 by a private security company.