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Cannabis |
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The possession, sale, disposition, cultivation, production, and prescribing of cannabis is regulated by the Narcotics Act 1967. Cannabis is a Class B narcotic under the Act. [1] The Act has only been amended twice since its creation in 1967, 2006 and 2009 respectively. [2]
It is illegal to cultivate cannabis or have a cannabis seed in your possession under Section 6 of the Act. [1] If found guilty, the maximum penalty is imprisonment of 14 years. [1]
It is illegal to possess or attempt to possess cannabis under Section 7 of the Act. [1] If found guilty, the maximum penalty is imprisonment of 14 years. [1]
In 2015 the Samoa Law Reform Commission was asked to review the Narcotics Act. It issued its final report in December 2017 recommending a regulated regime for medicinal cannabis. [3] [4] In January 2018 lawyer Unasa Iuni Sapolu called on the government to legalise cannabis for recreational and medicinal use. [5] The call was rejected by Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, [6] while Minister of Health Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama responded that cannabis needed to remain illegal for Biblical reasons. [7] In April 2019 a proposal by Australian medicinal cannabis company Leaf Relief for cannabis to be cultivated for medicinal use was also rejected. [8] [9]