-At-risk Youths Hail President Weah for Signing The Drug Law
By: Jerromie S. Walters
Following the signing into law of the Control Drug and Substance Act of 2023, commonly called the Drug Law, by President George Weah, disadvantaged youths from across central Monrovia have hailed the president for the decision and described it as a significant step in combating the proliferation of drugs across the country.
Scores of the at-risk youths, who are undoubtedly direct victims of the harmful substances, believe the president’s decision is in the right direction, on the basis that with the unavailability of drugs, they will be unable to access them, and this will create a huge distance between them and the substance(s).
Like many of the drug users we spoke with, Sarah Tamba said that with the signing of the law, they now have hope for change.
“It’s good; one, it will change my life; two, it will position me; and three, the things that spoil my life will not come back to spoil me”.
She emphasized the need for rehabilitation in light of the president’s signing of the law and how it will help the fight against drugs.
In her opinion, invading their ghettos and having them incarcerated will not address or limit the spread of drugs. “Carrying me to South Beach can’t solve the problem, but at least if they find rehab for us, it will be fine. For the time being, I’m tired of this life because I’m not finding my way through,” she articulated.
Like Sarah, Everlyn Jackson, a 35-year-old drug user, venerated the president’s decision and further viewed it as a major step in giving them relief.
“It’s fine; it’s ok; I like it because I want to change and go to my children. Look at the place I’m sleeping. I’m tired,” she said.
Everlyn emphasized how exhausted she is in the situation and mentioned how her male coworkers frequently harass and abuse her sexually as a result of her involvement in the harmful practice.
With this, she thanked the President and jointly recommended that he consider reasons to ensure that they are rehabilitated.
President George Manneh Weah on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, signed into law the Control Drug and Substance Act of 2023, commonly called the Drug Law.
After months of careful reflection and deliberation, the National Legislature recently passed the Drug Bill, prompting the President to carry out the historic duty on July 12.
The new law aims to regulate, restrict, control, limit, or eradicate the illegal export and importation as well as the flagrant use, abuse, and proliferation of narcotic substances within the bailiwick of the Republic.
The law, in part, provides penalties for specified offenses such as the unlicensed and unauthorized importation of controlled drugs or substances into the country.
It states that “A person commits an offense if he or she purposely or knowingly imports into Liberia “any controlled drugs or substances without a license from the Minister.”
It further added: “The offense of unlicensed importing of controlled drugs or substances shall be graded as where the subject matter of the offense is a drug or substances,” as prescribed by the Act.
It further states that “the person shall be guilty of a felony of the first degree and punishable to a prison term of a maximum of ten years and not exceeding twenty years consistent with provisions of the Penal Code 1, Sections 50.5 and 50.6.”
It is clearly noted that the offense shall be a grave offense and shall not be bailable.
The Act says that if the crime involves a drug or substances listed in Schedules II, III, or V of the Law that are to be used for trafficking, the person is guilty of a second-degree felony punishable by a prison term of not less than five years and not more than ten years, according to Sections 50.5 and 50.6 of the Penal Law of Liberia.
“As to the matter of bail,” the Act states, “only cash equals the value of the bond or cash’s deposit in the bank equals the value of the bond as evidenced by a bank certificate.”
Without a license, it is illegal to make or prepare drugs or substances listed in Schedules I, II, III, or IV, or precursors or essential chemicals listed in Tables I and II of the Act.
According to the law, such person shall be guilty of a felony of the first degree and, if used otherwise, shall be guilty of a second-degree felony and shall face a jail sentence between 0 and 20 years, or as prescribed in Sections 50.5 and 50.5 of the Penal Law of Liberia.
During the 13th Day sitting of the 2nd quarter of the 6th session of the 54th National Legislature of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia, mid-Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the House unanimously concurred with the Liberian Senate and enacted into law an Act amending the drug law, thus making it (the drug law) non-bailable.
The bill was passed following a motion from Sinoe County District #2 Representative Sampson Weah and a heated debate by the lawmakers. They argued over its urgency, consequences, and need for further understanding of the House Conference Committee’s report regarding the law, which many lawmakers said they weren’t acquainted with.
Upon being placed on the House’s floor for discussion, the bill was voted on by 25 Representatives with the argument that it was urgent, while one voted against it and two lawmakers abstained from the process.
This follows a report from the House Conference Committee on the Liberian Drugs Law that the House and Senate previously approved but sent back to the House for revisions.
The committee recommended that the amendment of chapter 14, offenses involving danger to the person, title 26, penal code, and Liberian codes be 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, and Liberian Codes Revised, are hereby repealed.
