San Juan (Puerto Rico), Oct 3 (AP) The Cayman Islands plans to hold a referendum on whether to turn possession of small amounts of marijuana into a minor offense.

Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said there is widespread support among legislators to hold a public vote, which he announced on Wednesday. “This government is committed to hearing the will of the people because this subject is more about changing lives than changing laws,” he said at a news conference.

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If the measure is approved by voters, possession of small amounts of marijuana would be treated like a minor offence, “similar to getting a traffic ticket” and leading to no criminal record, Bryan said. The proposed amount has not yet been decided.

The Cayman Islands legalised medical marijuana in May 2017, but recreational use remains illegal. Local laws dictate a prison sentence of up to a year for possession of up to 12 grams of marijuana for a first offense.

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The referendum is scheduled for next year, coinciding with general elections.

If the measure is approved, the Cayman Islands would join several nations across the socially conservative Caribbean region that have relaxed their cannabis laws.

Antigua decriminalised marijuana use for the general public. Jamaica also decriminalised small amounts of marijuana, while the US Virgin Islands recently authorised its recreational and sacramental use. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)