Calls are growing for a major debate on decriminalising cannabis, with support said to be strong in some corners of the Progressive Labour Party.

Government Senator Walton Brown yesterday advocated a caucus discussion on Bermuda's drugs laws, claiming people possessing minute amounts of marijuana should no longer be prosecuted.

And party members David Burt and Makai Dickerson spoke in favour of decriminalisation, saying the whole community needs to have their say on the subject.

Sen. Brown, a former researcher on the effects of drugs, is against decriminalisation — but he argues it is wrong to make people criminals simply for possessing tiny quantities they intend to smoke themselves.

Many young men have complained they're banned from travelling to the United States for having an amount of cannabis that would not even get them into trouble if they were caught in America.

"We should not embrace decriminalisation. What we can look at is a policy so that people who are caught in possession of small amounts do not get a criminal record for that," Sen. Brown told The Royal Gazette. "People who smoke marijuana aren't likely to go out and attack anyone. I support Police taking it from them, but why bring them before the courts?

"Let's not criminalise the behaviour of people in possession of small amounts."

Sen. Brown — principle researcher for the National Alcohol and Drugs Agency and the National Drug Commission from 1989 to 1994 — says decriminalising cannabis would send out the wrong message about its harmful effects. He said: "I believe that smoking anything is unhealthy. I would not want to see the Government introduce something that might be validating the use of marijuana."

A public campaign on the dangers of smoking could have the same success as one in the US on cigarette smoking, he said.

PLP backbencher Ashfield DeVent has said he would consider tabling a private members' bill on the issue, saying decriminalising all drugs would take the profit out of the underground industry and reduce the incentives for gangsters.

Sen. Brown said such sentiments are well-intended but he believes an alternative solution to ending violence can be found.

He said it is impossible to assess the full level of opinion within the party because there has been no full-scale debate.

"There are some who believe in decriminalisation, some believe in a softer approach to policing, and some who say we should abide by the laws of society as they are," he said.

"What's most important is that we come to a consensus about what the approach should be. We haven't had a discussion with a view towards coming up with a party position on this so I would encourage all members to express their views openly.

"At some point we should have a real party discussion on it."

Mr. Burt, who stressed he was speaking in a personal capacity, said: "Right now, we have bigger issues that deserve the Government's attention. However I hope that the entire Country will have a discussion and maybe even in the near future we'll have a green paper type approach to it.

"We need to discuss the issue without sensationalism with one simple goal: how do we reduce drug use and the effects of drugs in our community.

"Speaking in my personal capacity, I think that Bermuda needs to have in-depth discussion on serious issues such as this. Drugs are bad, but we live in a society where people who smoke weed everyday make fun of crackheads. All drugs are bad. Ultimately we as a society need to figure out the best way to reduce substance abuse in our Country. I happen to think the best way is via decriminalisation, education, and treatment.

"I get mad as hell when I see people who don't work, don't pay taxes, don't contribute to society, make more money in a week that most people make in a year, and use the profits of this 'illegal' enterprise to wreak havoc in our community and bribe Police officers, Customs officers, and prison officers, import guns and finance violence.

"Prohibition has never worked, and there isn't a democracy ever that has been successful with prohibition. There are no good fixes to this problem; however as a society, we need to look at the best choice out of two bad options; continue as we are, or change the laws and treat substance abuse and addiction as the public health problem it is.

"Drugs are bad, but because they are illegal/criminal it creates a black market; and as long as you have addicts that live in the underworld without treatment or help, you will have individuals that will feed their habit.

"I'd prefer to put drug dealers and pushers out of business and tax consumption to pay for the treatment that our people need to break this viscous cycle of addiction.

"I for one would like to think that Bermuda we can come to the realisation that what we are doing is not working and cannot work at least discuss the merits of a different approach."

Mr. Dickerson, party organiser for the West, said: "I agree with the idea of the decriminalisation of marijuana as the benefits of such a move outweigh the negative consequences.

"I feel that this is a topic that needs to be discussed heavily throughout the general public as well as Cabinet. We are living in a different time then when this substance was made illegal and new facts about it have surfaced.

"It is only fair to take an honest look at it and determine where we go with it. Once people have a chance to gain an informed opinion the powers that be will be able to determine the best route to take on behalf of the people of Bermuda."