Grand Bassa County’s district #5 Representative, Thomas A. Goshua, has introduced an act to amend chapter 14 of the New Penal Law of Liberia under title: Offense Involving Danger of the Person by adding thereto Sub-chapter (e) under the title, “Controlled Drug and Substances Act of 2014” to the House of Representatives.
The Drug Amendment Act was introduced on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 during 50th day sitting of the 4th Session of the 54th Legislature on Capitol Hill. Following the first reading, the act was forwarded to the committees on Judiciary, National Security, Health and Youth and Sports to properly review and report to plenary upon the return from the Independence Day break.
Representative Goshua said for long there has been public debate on the issue of the growing rate of drug users and drug-related substances in the country. This debate, according to him, led to his office conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the subject matter with the relevant government agencies, mainly the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
“It has been discovered that the current law is weak and characterized by a plethora of judicial discretions. The gaps in the law are currently impeding the efforts exerted by the agency to curb the menace that is gradually destroying the future generation of our country,” Representative Goshua’s letter, attached to the amendment act, read.
“It is our desire and hope that, considering the potential threat substance abuse poses to the society, particularly the youth, that plenary will act by expediting the passage of this proposed amendment, to save an entire generation.”
The Grand Bassa County lawmaker disclosed that the passage of the amendment act will save the country, especially with the growing youth population, from becoming involved with taking drugs. He also emphasized that it will help to reduce the illegal importation of drugs into the country.