By Ursula Huggins-Whitney
I want to say that I firmly support Dwyer Astaphan's initiative brought before the cabinet to legalize marijuana. Unfortunately, the proposal never made it to Parliament and was stopped in cabinet.
As a Nevisian temporarily abroad, I rely on SKNVibes to keep up with St Kitts-Nevis happenings. As a consequence, I chanced upon an article which quotes Dr. Douglas' comments on his call in show concerning marijuana, its use and the possibililty of legalizing it (even for medical use) in the Federation. He is dead set against any use for any purpose.
I strongly disagree with this approach and support Dwyer Astaphan. As a matter of fact, some time ago I called the VON radio call in show “On the Mark” to voice my support for legalizing marijuana. My reasoning is based on two major considerations:
First, the police spend a great deal of time chasing individuals who, other than smoking, are law-abiding citizens, instead of focusing their limited resources on the illegal guns used in roberies and murders. These seem as plentiful and available as marijuana and the other drugs – cocaine, heroin, meth - which can be readily found on the street.
Second, Dr. Douglas has medical credentials, but my research indicated that marijuana does not cause or lead to schizophrenia. A major study in Sweden bears this out (schizophrenia.com). Schizophrenia sufferers, if their symptoms are severe, are medically treated in a hospital or at home. I have yet to see schizophrenics walking the streets of St. Kitts or Nevis.
To blame a major portion of our crime on marijuana seems to me to be an attempt to shift the blame for failed crime prevention policies to a convenient scapegoat.
