Marijuana, weed, cannabis, pot, ganja, Mary Jane….whatever you choose to call it, there are always questions about it. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the laws on marijuana in T&T:
1. Is smoking weed legal in Trinidad and Tobago?
Ganja consumption is now largely restricted to location.
According to section 5A (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (as amended by Act No. 24 of 2019), if you smoke cannabis or cannabis resin in a public place you would be committing an offence.
Smoking in this case means to inhale, exhale, burn, combust or vaporise the substance OR to carry any lighted or heated device, pipe or other product for the inhalation of the substance – this includes an electronic smoking device like a vape pen.
A public place means a place in which the public has access. However, it does not include any premises used as a dwelling. In other words, if you smoke marijuana at home or at a private residence it would be considered legal.
If a police officer has reason to believe that you are smoking weed in public or you have been smoking weed in public he can issue what is called a “fixed penalty notice” charging you with the offence of smoking in a public place and requiring you to pay the fixed penalty within the time specified on the fixed penalty notice (section 5B (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (as amended by Act No. 24 of 2019).
The fixed penalty for this offence is $2000TT (section 5B (16) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (as amended
by Act No. 24 of 2019).
2. Can I smoke inside my vehicle?
You can smoke inside your vehicle as long as you are not on a public road, public space or in private space that is legally accessible to the public. To be safe, if you want to smoke in your car – do it at home in your garage or driveway.
3. How much marijuana am I allowed to have on me in T&T?
According to section 5 (2)(f) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (as amended by Act No. 24 of 2019), a person in T&T is allowed to have in his possession not more than 30 grammes of cannabis OR 5 grammes of cannabis resin. (More).