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Barbados and the rise of weed culture

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As you move around Barbados on the byways and byways or attend public gatherings, the pungent smell of cannabis is sure to assail the nostrils. The use of cannabis has become so prevalent that there is an attempt by the police public relations department to educate Barbadians about law governing the use of the illegal substance.

There is the reminder that the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Act, 2020 decriminalised small amounts of cannabis in Barbados. Decriminalised means, it is illegal to be caught with cannabis which is punishable by a fine instead of a criminal charge. If it is was legal, there would be no penalty.

Amount of CannabisLegal OutcomeLaw Source
14 grams or less$200 fixed penalty ticket (no criminal record)Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Act, 2020
More than 14 gramsCriminal charge under the main ActDrug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act

The sad but unsurprising reality is that the Barbados Police Service (BFS) has been unable to enforce the law and the use of cannabis is now commonplace. Some will say, what is new, it reminds us of our inability to enforce the traffic laws, particularly as it relates to public service vehicles (PSVs), private use of the roads and dumping of garbage. We are a country that has become weak on enforcing laws. Our challenge to enforce laws clearly signals a breakdown in our governance framework, not just policing. The rule of law has shifted from being a non negotiable, to the BPS and government officials ‘begging’ citizens daily to comply with the law.

When public trust is eroded in a key state agency like the BPS, it must have serious implications for maintaining law and order. Too many Barbadians have stopped believing in the justice system. If our society is unable to function to protect the people by holding lawbreakers accountable, there is bound to be the chaos we are witnessing in Barbados. Illegal behaviour is being normalized.

Are we there yet?

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10 responses to “Barbados and the rise of weed culture”

  1. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    This writer had assessed that the critical mass had come to a more “enlightened” understanding about marijuana, especially in small quantities.

    That the conversation had moved on from the criminalization of a naturally grown plant, given the legitamate industrialization and broad adoption of the idea that personal use of marijuana had been given the “informada” of the imperial and therefore the local elites, especially as absent the active ingredient.

    This writer is personally as oppositional to smoking marijuana, drinking its tea may be more acceptable, as to the social disease, suborned by the people, it might appear, of having an entrenched elected dictatorship, which the social misfits who vote seem to be insisting on.

    Maybe, there are some internal contradictions between the marijuana smokers and the elected dictatorship, even as no amount of police force can combat either.

  2. Hopey Avatar
    Hopey

    The society echoes the actions of those who lead by doing what they see and ignoring the spoken rhetoric. Hope Housing, Carsicot, St Joseph Hospital, Greenland, Santia Cheque, Pele case, QEH power generator, ABC highway, Dodds Prison, Gymnasium, Hilton Hotel, Mount Stinkeroo tractor rental, Government renting from political financiers, Crab Hill police station, Oistins police station, corruption at Bridgetown port, under invoicing by politicians over the years of imports, undeclared funds declared funds to political parties, undeclared funds in offshore accounts, undeclared gifts as real estate overseas, politicians deciding who get charged etc

  3. David Avatar
    David

    https://barbadosunderground.net/2026/05/24/podcast-episode-1-1-barbados-and-the-rise-of-weed-culture/

  4. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Wha gine on wid dis?

    https://nationnews.com/2026/05/24/work-on-cultural-facility-at-standstill/

  5. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I have been informed by a few older Barbadians thar marijuana is for drinking, not for smoking. I believe them.

  6. right wing podcats Avatar
    right wing podcats

    Nobody paid attention to antiquated weed laws and smoked the plant regardless.

    Now they can possess up to half an ounce without getting a criminal record.

    The podcast seems to be a primitive right wing argument by those stuck in the past who cannot boldly move forward with the times.

  7. Increase Vitality and Diffuse Mental Tension Avatar
    Increase Vitality and Diffuse Mental Tension

    Now adopt the role of a detached observer allowing all thoughts to flow freely
    through your awareness

    then notice the influence of any random thoughts on the rhythm of your breath
    by maintaining this stance of neutrality and detached awareness you create space for non reactivity recognisng the transient nature of all thoughts emotions as mere expressions of mental energy

    notice how some thoughts may evoke expansion and vitality deepening your breath and invigorating your energy while other thoughts may cause contraction and depletion

    avoid choosing pleasant thoughts over unpleasant thoughts and just remain a fully detached observer learning how various thoughts impact your breath and either the expansive or contracted state of prana (energy)

    by understanding the impact of thoughts on your energy field you gain control over your inner state choosing to maintain mindfulness and developing greater resilience

    notice how positive thoughts and mental silence expands your energy
    filling you with a sense of vitality and joy

    and in contrast notice how negative thoughts cause constriction and depression

    as you continue to observe the spontaneous thoughts that arise become sensitive to their impact on the expansiveness or constriction of your energy field

    expansive energy equates to feeling good

    allow you breath to occupy your total attention

    by choosing to breathe with full awareness you can allow physical relaxation to deepen and mental silence to develop

    when a distracting thought arises simply notice the impact it has on your breath
    then release all tension in the muscles of respiration and continue observing the natural breath with total detachment

    as your mind becomes increasingly more silent observe how mental stillness creates the perfect conditions for the expansion of prana within you

    in the absence of mental chatter and distraction the subtle energy throughout your body can flow freely allowing you to naturally feel happy and full of personal power

    experience a profound sense of oneness with everything around you

    the same cosmic energy that animates all the various forms of life in your environment is also flowing within you as the breath

    in this state of physical stillness and mental silence become acutely aware of your individual life force energy

    feel this energy flowing freely within you and radiating outwards expanding in all directions around you

    experience your own individual prana merging with the universal cosmic energy that surrounds you

    the vast boundless sea of energy

    Now repeat this affirmation
    through breath awareness I nourish my spirit with tranquility and joy

  8. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    The issue here is the fact it is illegal to have the substance – less than or greater than – the fact there is rampant use speak to a lawlessness that we must admit is out of control.

  9. silly rabbit Avatar
    silly rabbit

    weed does not make lawlessness silly rabbit

  10. Dopey Avatar
    Dopey

    The weed relaxation was a selfish vote catch by the then opposition BLP. They got the government and weed smokers got the relaxation and decide to ignore the $200 fine.

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