The Legalization of Marijuana

EDITOR: The legalization of marijuana is a very serious public policy issue as there are economic, public and private health and criminal justice implications for our society.

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is known in the Caribbean to be one of the biggest growers and exporters of this drug (plant) which is done illegally at this point.

A number of persons have been arrested and prosecuted for possession and cultivation of this drug. Statistics reveal that over the past five years, 2,219 persons were arrested for possession or cultivation of this drug and well over three million grammes of Cannabis were seized. Some were destroyed while some remains in the custody of the Police. It is imperative to note that 454 grammes makes one pound. One bomb of weed is less than a gram which has a street value of two to three dollars and in cases like the Grenadines five to ten dollars. So for example if you are caught with one pound of cannabis this may carry a street value of just over XCD$1,000. This is why I believe so many young persons take the chance to be involved in this business.

I am aware that many Rastas and young people are in the hills of SVG planting the herb for various reasons and would gravitate to the discussion of freeing up the herb for medical and recreational purposes. However, one must ask, what are the implications of legalizing marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes? Is our Society mature enough for these changes? What would be the checks and balance to avoid abuses?

I am no medical practitioner by any means but I must ask, what are the implications on the mental health of persons?

In November of 2016, I had the opportunity to be on a panel Discussion organized by the Caricom Youth Ambassadors on the very important topic “Free up di herb”. The trained medical practitioner outlined very serious implications on the mental health of persons who abuse the drug. It was revealed that quite a high percentage of persons who abuse the drug end up in the mental asylum. Is this the nation we want?

While some may argue that they have been smoking marijuana for years and it has very little effect on them, we must remember that every individual is different and may react differently to such drug.

We must therefore ask ourselves, are we truly ready for the legalization of this drug? As a strong advocate for community policing and community safety, I believe the issue of marijuana legalization or decriminalization must be carefully thought out and it must involve each and every community.

What works in Jamaica, Colorado or any other country that legalizes marijuana whether for medical, religious or recreational purposes does not mean it will work in SVG. This is a very complex issue which must be properly crafted and thought out with all stakeholders especially at the community level. I want us however not to be self centered or individualistic in the quest to legalize Cannabis solely for economic benefits. We must think this through critically if we are to get the best results. The police, who are accustomed to arresting persons for such, would also need to be educated on this issue because of the change.

If marijuana is legalized for recreational purposes, there can be serious confrontation between the police and citizens. For example, can you imagine a young man purposefully blowing his smoke in the faces of the officers?

I am even more scared and concerned about the abuse of this drug by our school children. In Amsterdam for example, students who smoke on or near campus challenge their administrators to do anything about it. As a result children would turn up for school stoned, or high. Coffee shops that were licensed to sell Marijuana and were in close proximity to schools had to be closed because students were also turning up for classes in a daze.

As we move towards this change in our society let us not use it for political or economic gains but rather take into consideration the other ills and the serious implications this could have on our society if the right mechanisms are not put in place.

Brenton Smith