Can We Discuss The Ganja Issue?

[Sir X]

Can We Discuss The Ganja Issue?

Published: Friday | October 1, 20101 Comment and 0 Reactions


http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101001/business/business9.html

Wilberne Persaud, Financial Gleaner Columnist

Every so often we discuss policy with respect to marijuana production and use in Jamaica.

Recently, I came across a column I wrote in 1996 about the issue. At that time, Rastafari brethren had staged a demonstration aimed at convincing the authorities to decriminalise use and, by extension, the growing of ganja.

Their position at that time was based on religious observance. They were not making a claim for everyone - their advocacy did not cover the teenager experimenting for pleasure, nor tourist on the Negril strip.

I pointed out in that column that the "studies of ganja use in Jamaica with which I am familiar seem to indicate several features that should be considered in any policy. First, there is an ambiguity with which the society views ganja use. It is given to children in teas and used medicinally by many. Agricultural labourers use it and feel it enhances their ability to work. Entertainers and others use it more or less openly in the face of officers of the law. They are convinced it deepens their consciousness. Another segment of the society is of the view that it fosters indolence and criminal activity. Medical evidence suggests it impairs normal functioning and also has long-term negative health consequences. Yet, its use persists. Finally, it is clear that there is differential impact on individuals - some literally go mad, while others compose interesting music and seem to work more diligently."

[Rockman]

The have been many studies regarding ganja use, in fact at least one initiated by a US President, that study found the rumour of ganja making people insane was false.
From the get go the mantra of the anti ganja movement was it makes the black man insane and many raped white women after smoking it, this is the origin of the rumour, one that sadly still exists in Ja.

OBTW, the then President had said he would go with the findings of the study(They usually do), he shamefully made a 180 when he found out those findings favoured de herb.

Blessed

[Sir X]

Biggest fallacy in history , no medical data can support that ganja drives anyone crazy or its a gateway to any drug , part of the misinformation.

If ganja is a gateway to hard drugs so is ciggartetes,alcohol and bubble gum.Ask any medical psychiatrist thats learned in his profession and he will tell you the common train of though is it brings out the underlying psychotic behaviour our inhibits it , in other words its always been there .

The 2nd point the author makes is while we criminalise it , those that gain are the great powers that have decriminalised it for medical use or lets just says LEGAL PROFIT! Our marketing advantage of Jamaican ganja would be lost by the time our government wakes up and $$$$eees whats going on.