Police recruits could face age-limit dilemma under new law

When the Mis­cel­la­neous Pro­vi­sions (Al­co­hol, Cannabis, Dan­ger­ous Drugs, Gam­bling and To­bac­co) Bill, 2026 comes in­to ef­fect next year, there will be po­lice of­fi­cers who may not be able to drink a beer or smoke a cig­a­rette, yet car­ry a firearm.

Speak­ing at the Trinidad and To­ba­go Po­lice Ser­vice (TTPS) me­dia brief­ing yes­ter­day, head of the Po­lice Train­ing Acad­e­my, Snr Supt Richard Tay­lor, said po­lice of­fi­cers are re­cruit­ed from the ages of 18 to 35.

The bill would make 25 the thresh­old for pos­sess­ing cannabis with­in per­mis­si­ble quan­ti­ties and cul­ti­vat­ing up to four plants.