The House of Representatives has enacted into law an Act Amending the Drug Law as Non-billable.
A release issued by the Press Bureau of the House of Representatives says plenary took the decision on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 following a report from the legislative Conference Committee on the Drug Law of Liberia.
The committee recommended that amendment of chapter 14, “Offenses Involving Danger to the Person”, Title 26, Penal Code, Liberian Codes Revised by adding thereto subchapter (E) under the title “Controlled Drug and Substances Act of 2023”.
The conference committee added that part five, “Regulation of Drugs, Public Health Law, Liberian Codes Revised”, is hereby repealed.
“Section 17.5, Chapter 17, Offenses against Public Order, Penal Law of the Liberian Codes Revised, is hereby amended by deleting there from the words ‘narcotics or other drug not therapeutically administered’,” the committee revealed.
The legislative conference committee said chapter 14, “Offenses Involving Danger to the Person, Penal Law, Liberian Code of Laws Revised”, is hereby amended to add thereto Subchapter E, “Controlled Drugs and Substances”.
“Cannabis, which is commonly known as marijuana, include all parts of the plant Cannabis Sativa, whether growing or not, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of such plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, its seed or resin; but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fibers produced from such stalks, oils or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seeds of such plant which cannot germinate,” subchapter E is quoted.
The body further requested that consumption of controlled drugs and substances a second (lower) degree felony is that the consumers are deemed to be victims of the cultivators, manufacturers, importers, exporters, traffickers and sellers.
The law also provides that where the convict of any of these crimes is not a Liberian, after serving his/her sentence, he/she shall be deported from Liberia.