At long last, the Senate Plenary has largely concurred with the House of Representatives on the new drug law, amending the ‘Controlled Drug and Substances Act of 2014’’.
According to its press release, the Senate took the decision in its Session on Thursday, 10 November 2022 following hours of debate amongst Senators.
The latest concurrence comes after a protracted period being stalled in committee room in the Senate wing at the Capitol Building, amid mounting public outcry on the need to strengthen the drug law and make the crime nonbailable, as Liberia is said to have become a major transit center for illicit drugs..
Taking the decision, the Liberian Senate categorized the drug crime into two categories, hence making it non-billable and billable depending on the gravity of the crime.
In the wisdom of the Liberian Senate, those who are involved in the importation, distribution, massive production and custody of the illicit drugs shall not be granted the right to a bail when caught in the act, while the end users of the drug shall have the right to a bail when apprehended in the act.
According to a Senate release, the passage of the Act was preceded a report of the Senate Judiciary, Claim and Petition Committee and by a motion filed by Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence.
Meanwhile, the President Pro Tempore has appointed a Conference Committee to work with the House of Representatives in harmonizing key components of the Act, which was previously passed by the House of Representatives for onward submission to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.
Those appointed to the Conference Committee include Senators Varney G. Sherman of Grand Cape Mount County, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence of Grand Bassa County, Augustine Chea of Sinoe County, Steve A. Zargo and Joseph K. Jallah of Lofa County. In another development, the Liberian Senate has taken a short break until November 22, 2022 as a result of the conduct of the National Population and Housing Census, which is expected to begin on Friday, November 11, 2022. The Senate took the decision on Thursday, November 10, 2022 upon signing of a resolution to approve census from November 11, 2022 to November 22, 2022 in order to afford Senators the opportunity to return to their various counties so as to be enumerated (counted), said the Senate a release signed by the Press Director Alfred Johnson.