Why it Will be Expensive to Smoke 'Weed'
The offence of cannabis possession will now attract lighter sentence compared to those found guilty of narcotics trafficking according to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill 2020 passed last week by the National Assembly.
Ojiambo Kevin 
The measure aimed at curbing abuse of drugs shortens the jail term for those convicted users and lengthens imprisonment for convicted dealers.
This means that if the President signs the Bill into law, those found guilty of possessing cannabis will face not more than five years in jail or a fine of Sh100,000 or both from the current law which sets out a Sh1 million in fine or 10 years in jail because majority of convicts can’t afford the fines.
Those convicted of trafficking face a fine of not less than Sh50 million or 50 years in jail from the current 20-year jail term. The Bill proposes life imprisonment for a convicted trafficker in addition to a fine amounting to three times the value of the drugs.
“This is to provide for punishment that best fits the practice in court,” Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, who chairs the House Committee on Administration and National Security that considered the Bill, said.
The Bill also introduces the concept of rehabilitation, which is aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of people with problematic substance use.
