The interview was conducted at Diab's Charter House Building, where, a few doors down, PUP Leader John Briceno records his weekly statement. This one is making news because Briceno has taken a bold step - he's calling for Belize to do what Jamaica and other countries have done: legalize marijuana, and turn it into an export market. In fact, he appears in front of a screen which says: "Grow the economy. Legalize it. Tax it."
That's bold - and Briceno's handlers even pandered to his audience by tracking teh message with Marlon Asher's "Ganja Farmer" track in the background.
Yeah, he went there.
Briceno was emboldened by Canada's legalization of weed - here's how he explained what it can do for Belize:
Hon. John Briceno- PUP Leader
"Canada just legalized marijuana for recreational use. 32 countries worldwide already have some legalized form of marijuana use. This is big news for it provides an opportunity for the creation of a new industry in Belize. People opposed to the law to allow for the recreational use of marijuana said the whole issue was a crazy idea. While those in support of it said it would be one way to take the whole issue out of the black-market, out of the hands of criminals and put it in a place where it will benefit others. Here is where I see an opportunity and why I am speaking about it in this week's message. Benefitting us as a country with a struggling economy, we have to open our eyes to every opportunity that can create jobs for our people. Today, the legal marijuana industry world-wide is a $144 billion industry. Think about it, something we burn and destroy every chance we get could earn us in the millions if we could only put the proper mechanism in place to develop it legally. Just think of what the harvesting of legal marijuana could do for our small farmers. As a leader in this country I want to grow and build on our mixed economy model and if we could become a part of this rapidly growing industry. If through this we can create sustainable jobs for our people then I want to partner with legitimate stakeholders. We can take advantage of these opportunities in a way that will benefit our people. The opportunities in this $144 billion industry are endless and we have to take advantage of it. I am putting together a team of people from my party to start the research and discussion to develop a plan."
We'll standby for reaction from the churches and the evangelicals.
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