Ease the pressure, please!

06.JUL.07

EDITOR: “A new study in the journal ‘Neurology’ is being hailed as unassailable proof that marijuana is a valuable medicine. It is a sad commentary on the state of modern medicine – and US drug policy – that we still need ‘proof’ of something that medicine has known for over 5,000 years.” This opening statement which appeared in an editorial of the “The Boston Globe” on March 1, 2007 and written by Professor Emeritus Lester Grinspoon will form the basis for my short discourse.{{more}} I urge readers to go online and read the entire article. See direct link at the end of the letter.

On June 30, 2007 however, an article under the caption “Law requires N.M. to grow its own pot”, and written by AP writer Deborah Baker which appeared on Yahoo news reads like this:

“SANTA FE, N.M. New Mexico has a new medical marijuana law with a twist: it requires the state to grow its own.

The law, effective Sunday (July 1, 2007), not only protects medical marijuana users from prosecution – as 11 other states do – but requires New Mexico to oversee a production and distribution system for the drug.” The article went on to state that: “Within weeks, approved patients – or their approved primary care givers – would receive temporary certificates allowing them to possess up to six ounces of marijuana, four mature plants and three immature seedlings. That’s enough for three months, the department says.”

The law allows the use of marijuana for specified conditions which include cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and HIV/AIDS, as well as by some patients in hospice care.” See following link for entire article. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070630/ap_on_he_me/medical_marijuana.

There is of course ‘unassailable proof’ that marijuana is SAFER than cigarettes/tobacco, and alcohol (in many of its forms, gin, stout, beer, vodka etc., except wine) for which there is ‘overwhelming’ evidence that these two main ‘legal drugs’ have killed and are continuing to kill millions of people world wide. Ask Fidel Castro why he stopped puffing cigars.

When Dr. Albert Lockhart, a Vincentian conducted a lecture at the UWI extra mural centre here some years ago, he stated that there is no clinical evidence to support that anyone who used marijuana ALONE has been guilty of any violent crime induced by its use. So the myth that ganja will make you crazy and do crazy things is just propaganda by persons and agencies who want cigarettes, alcohol and other party drugs sold for recreational use instead of marijuana. (My opinion based on research).

This short expose is not to lobby for marijuana purely for recreational use, but more importantly for its medicinal benefits. Both Drs. Lockhart and Jamaican counterpart Manley West have successfully isolated three prescription drugs which are currently available in the Caribbean and Canada. The three drugs which include marinol (for motion sickness), canasol (for glaucoma) and another for asthma should be given the prominence they deserve.

A private sector initiative, including doctors and ganja farmers, should look at the setting up a of a pharmaceutical industry/company here in SVG, which can produce top a quality herb grown in our fertile volcanic soils which would in turn provide the basis for effective drugs against the manifold conditions that marijuana has been proven to cure or control. Additionally, research must also continue to find out what else this wonderful plant God has provided us with can do, in other areas of health care, in industry – other than paper, rope, clothing – and in the area of phyto-remediation (used to remove radio-active pollutants from the soil). Visit www.cannabisculture.com and place ‘phyto-remediation’ in the advanced search.

At least three of our wise Magistrates here, notably erstwhile ‘bencher’, Errol Mounsey has clamoured for the decriminalization of ganja and while on the bench reprimanded police officers for bringing in a school boy/girl or anyone for that matter for just one ‘spliff’. Weekly columnist “Blazer” Williams has also blazed the trail in that respect in more than one of his articles, … so it is time for the policy makers here to EASE UP on the laws. How can we as leaders deny the right of a sick person the right to use an alternative form of medication and possibly the only one, that will ease their agony for few remaining days on this planet? It would be grave sin NOT to do so.

I therefore look forward hopefully before year end that ‘progressive’ doctors and lawyers like Jerrol Thompson and Ronnie Marks (respectively) would present the relevant documents to decriminalize ganja before the House and that one of the progressive radio stations here will get in contact with Dr. Albert Lockhart and involve the nation in a healthy discussion instead of the political bickering which is now notoriously offensive to progressives among us and others in the diaspora who listen via the internet, who constitute the ‘silent majority’. Let’s raise the bar exponentially and start operating on a higher level.

Donald De Riggs.

The direct link to “The Boston Globe” Editorial follows: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/03/01/marijuana_as_wonder_drug/.