BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS the debate on whether or not the government should decriminalize the use of marijuana continues, Medical Doctor Terrance Drew believes that St. Kitts and Nevis is missing out on its benefits.
Speaking at a press conference arranged by the Organisation of Rastafarians (ORU) in Unity on Tuesday (Aug. 22), Dr. Drew questioned why the Federation is lagging behind when several states within America are benefiting significantly from having it decriminalized and used for medicinal purposes.
The MD noted that marijuana was found to be beneficial for weight loss, dementia, childhood seizures, and is used by cancer patients, among other suggested benefits.
But with the government remaining steadfast on its position not to decriminalize marijuana, the Rastafarian community is seeking to pressure the Dr. Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Administration in making a positive decision.
The government had earlier this year established a committee to consult with the public and make recommendations on the way forward on decriminalization.
“We have a submission going to the Cabinet hopefully next week where we are attempting to set up that broad based committee that would look at all of the issues involved in the use of marijuana and all other matters in relation to it, and that will have representation from the Rastafarian community, from health, from law enforcement, the schools etc., and such other relevant parties of course will have input as the commission, if you will, goes about doing its work and hearing from the people,” Dr. Harris stressed on WINN FM’s Voices programme earlier in the year.
But members of the ORU have been conducting sensitization rallies across both islands, where they are trying to engage people within their communities and share information on the use and benefits of the herb.
“But we are saying that we have been doing this for quite a while, and we are saying that it is full time now that the government...because we have already spoken with the authorities, the police, and they have said that it is not them. If the law changes tomorrow, then they have to respect the users of the herb.
“So, we must take our fight and our cries to the politicians. So this is why we are inviting persons to come on out and march and send that message, and they can see that it is not just I and I as Rastafari but it is a wide cross section of the population; so that they can see and be willing to start the discussion, because our sensitization is not falling on deaf ears.”
Dr. Drew explained that with St. Kitts and Nevis primed to be the research hub of the Caribbean with the number of medical universities on the islands, further investigations into marijuana use should be explored.
He stressed that only by exploration would people know how economic and intellectual benefits could be derived from marijuana, adding that “we continue to fall way behind”.
“And so I want to say that the marijuana plant must be considered. We must move to have discussions so that it can be used for medicinal purposes. And really having it illegal with no opportunity to researching it and giving it to those who might benefit from it is really putting our people at a disadvantage.”
Currently, a political firestorm over its possible decriminalization exists on sister isle Nevis.
In its campaign message, the Nevis Reformation Party is promising voters that marijuana would be decriminalized should it win the upcoming local elections.
