BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - The debate and increasing call for the decriminalisation of marijuana continue to gather pace regionally and internationally, but St. Kitts and Nevis will see no such legislation in support of marijuana’s decriminalisation in the near future, not even for medical purposes, according to St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.
Government’s stance on marijuana use
Recent comments made publicly by Dr. Douglas on the decriminalisation of marijuana issue have upset some members of society, especially some members of the Rastafarian community who believe that “ganja” is an integral part of their religion. However, the Prime Minister’s comments have appeased others, who feel that marijuana smoking is detrimental to one’s physical, psychological and emotional well-being.
At a recent passing out parade of 28 St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) soldiers, Dr. Douglas charged the soldiers, some of whom may smoke “weed” themselves, to be militant in their fight to exterminate the cultivation and sale of marijuana in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Marijuana as a Sacrament
Ras Dabo Penny, a member of the Nyabinghi Theocracy Order, is a proud Rastafarian who firmly believes in the Rastafarian faith. He has been a Rastafarian since 1981. He started out in life selling newspapers. Presently, he is the Public Relations Officer and one of the head organisers of his order.
Ras Dabo believes that marijuana should be decriminalised and that failure to decriminalise it is part of systematic oppression within the society. He feels that the continuing opposition to legalise marijuana is a violation of the fundamental religious rights of members of the Rastafarian religion, who believe that marijuana is as a sacrament for uplifting spirituality and prophecies. Rastas see no moral basis for the prohibition of marijuana use. Smoking marijuana, they say, is a part of their communion just as other churches have communion services where they partake of the bread and wine. Ras Dabo believes that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are legal. Tobacco, it is believed, is more carcinogenic than marijuana.
Some young people feel that they are harassed and charged for smoking “weed” and that it is petty when compared to other serious crimes that should be given greater attention.
A medical doctor by profession, Dr. Douglas acknowledges that marijuana has medicinal benefits but quickly points out that he has seen marijuana cause serious mental illnesses in its users, leading to self-destruction.
Harm to young developing brains
Marijuana, also known by the scientific name “cannabis sativa” and by numerous other names such as “weed”, ganja and “Mary Jane” is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine.
Recent research has shown that young developing brains are likely more susceptible to harm from marijuana than those of adults, and that cannabis use by young people can mess with the complex changes going on inside their heads. Research has also shown that regular cannabis use dulls young people’s brains and leads to a permanent decrease in IQ and a possible heightened risk of developing psychosis.
Scientists have also said that young people are particularly vulnerable to cannabis use at puberty because from the perspective of the teenage brain, the endocannabinoid system – the chemicals and the receptors - is involved in the refinement of the neurons or cells which process information as the brain passes through the teenage years. Once you are an adult, scientists say, the same processes are no longer occurring.
Benefits of marijuana use
As the debate on the decriminalisation of marijuana gathers steam, many are weighing in on the issue.
Less than one month ago, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, said that he was forced to change his anti-marijuana stance after seeing the evidence of the benefits of marijuana and having travelled the world and interviewed medical experts, growers and patients.
Dr. Gupta said that marijuana doesn’t have a high potential for abuse and did not lead to significant addiction in the medical sense of the word and there was no evidence that marijuana led to morphine, heroin or cocaine additions.
He said that the United States has been “terribly and systematically misled” for almost seven decades to classify marijuana as a Schedule One Substance in the same category as heroin and morphine, while cocaine considered a more addictive substance is a Schedule Two Substance.
A Schedule One Substance is defined as a drug that has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use in treatment, and where there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substances under medical supervision.
Dr. Gupta said that there are very legitimate medical applications for marijuana and that “in fact, sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works”.
He was however quick to differentiate the use of marijuana for medical purposes from the malingerers, who are just looking to get a high. He said that he would not support his children using marijuana, and if they do it would have to be a decision they make as adults.
According to doctors, marijuana can be used for treatment of neuralgia, compulsive disorders, emaciation, neuropathic pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, asthma and anorexia, among other illnesses and ailments.
Legalisation can affect drug dealers’ profits
In August of this year, 50 of 96 MPs in Uruguay’s Lower House voted on a bill to legalise marijuana. The supporters of the bill contended that the fight against drugs and drug trafficking in Uruguay was making little headway and new alternatives and measures had to be taken. The government of President Jose Mujica said the legalisation of marijuana will remove profits from the drug dealers and divert users from harder drugs.
South America has some of the most ruthless drug cartels.
In the USA, 20 states have legalised medical cannabis including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
In each of the above states, individuals who qualify for medical marijuana use are free to smoke marijuana and purchase it from caregivers and/or any legal medical marijuana dispensary. In thirteen of the 15 US states where medical marijuana use is legal, patients and their caregivers can cultivate their own cannabis. And with the exception of New Jersey, Cannabis can legally be cultivated from one’s home, or primary residence.
For decades the sale of marijuana has been the breadline for many a dealer in the Caribbean and, in some quarters, it is said that the legalisation of it could boost a country’s economy.
One individual, who wants to remain anonymous but gave his initials as LC, posited that “America sees itself as the world’s policy maker and is against any country that is against decisions its legislators would have made”.
LC claims that as researchers continue to highlight the benefits of marijuana use for medicinal purposes, just as it has legalise gay marriage in many states, America would soon decriminalise marijuana in all of its states.
“We cannot wait for the American Government to give us the go-ahead in the legalisation of marijuana...the time is now for us to do that. In doing so, marijuana can be planted on a large scale and exported to medical dispensaries in the US, especially in those 15 states that have already legalised it.
“We have a very high national debt and, even though our government has publicly said it has been significantly reduced, the exportation of marijuana, in a very short period, can most certainly eradicate that debt. Additionally, we have one of the highest murder rates per capita and I strongly believe that many of the gun-related killings are linked to drugs. But with the decriminalisation of marijuana, we will certainly see a reduction in violent crime.
“I am not advocating that the legalisation of marijuana is for the use of any and everyone; I am simply saying that it must be controlled and those who are using it for medicinal purposes must be in possession of a doctor’s prescription.”
As the debate on the decrimalisation of marijuana continues, what are your views on it?
