Our Sense of Priority?

[Historian]

In Jamaica, the slaughter of our children, women and men continues unabated, with blood flowing across the 14 parishes like a freely rushing river. In the meantime, the only response by the authorities is the decades-old knee-jerk response by the police (lofty statements and promises and other reactionary actions) and no other serious effort to deal with the scourge of violent crime.

To be specific here, is the legalization of the weed of a greater priority than attacking in a serious way the scourge of crime, for example, adopting the death penalty? (And yes, I am fully aware of all of the British Privy Council’s various rulings on the death penalty both before and after Pratt vs. Morgan.)

The decriminalization for personal use of limited amounts of marijuana was inevitable, and I understand that. But where is the comparable passion as far as serious crimes are concerned (including the drastic and immediate overhauling of the archaic justice system)?



Source of news story below: The Jamaica Observer, June 13, 2014
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...-p---_16877863


Bill approved to relax ganja possession penalties
Friday, June 13, 2014

JAMAICA'S legislators have approved the amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act to facilitate the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of ganja.

The announcement was made by Justice Minister Mark Golding during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston yesterday.

"Cabinet has approved certain changes to the law relating to ganja. These relate to the possession of small quantities of ganja for personal use, the smoking of ganja in private places and the use of ganja for medical/medicinal purposes," Golding said.

[Rockman]

Well I am sure you are at least encouraged by something being "prioritized" because if Jamaica lagging behind in legalizing weed is an indicator of prioritt then nothing is prioritized.
Do not blink or you will miss something.
Often when our police recovers an illegal gun there are multiple fatalities.Recent events suggest a patern of change,a change in the mindset of the JCF(spurred on because if the initiatives of Indecom).
Maybe the JCF is changing for the better.

[Hortical]

I agree Histy. We have become numb to the obscene homicide rate in Jamaica, and we lack an effective strategy to reduce crime. As always, Jamaicans are responsible for their own safety, not the gov't, nor the JCF, and certainly not any politician that can come forward with any solid ideas on cleaning up the country.

[Sir X]

Obviously Historian you don't see crimminalisation as a human rights issue, but a prioritization issue ?

[Sir X]

The best piece of human rights legislation in Jamaica post slavery and independence.

[Sir X]

You have to wonder when the lucid amongst us looks at crime as an issue but criminalization of ganja as not an issue of priority?... Sic...commonsense would summarize peace officers resources concentrated on hardened criminals instead of peaceful citizens smoking a herb.

[Historian]

You're So Right

I agree Histy. We have become numb to the obscene homicide rate in Jamaica, and we lack an effective strategy to reduce crime. As always, Jamaicans are responsible for their own safety, not the gov't, nor the JCF, and certainly not any politician that can come forward with any solid ideas on cleaning up the country.

Well stated, Hortical, boss. You are correct, as anyone who cares about our country will realize!

[Historian]

A Freakin' Sideshow!

Obviously Historian you don't see crimminalisation as a human rights issue, but a prioritization issue ?

Boss, I won’t engage in lengthy exchanges except to say this: compared with our impressively high murder and rape rates, any change to our marijuana laws, no matter how necessary, has to be a sideshow!!

It’s as simple as that!

This incompetent government should make as their first really urgent priorities (a) our crime situation and, (b) the state of affairs in our system of education.

[Rockman]

Every now and then,one has to revisit issues in case something was missed.
In yesterday's Observer, an almost a doctor(a Psychiatrist) came out swinging at the move to have weed legalized.He cites the many patients he comes across because of their usage of weed.What the good psychiatrist did not tell you is to counteract the very real possibility of psychiatrists being exposed as frauds,they chose to dope patients as a fix because the one on one talks never worked.
Xani,perks etc,all dangerous drugs prescribed....
He should focus on defending Jamaica from that.
He too,can be seen as really loving jamaica for his public stance.

[Sir X]

Most Jamaican doctors are quacks.Criminalization serves his purpose.Ganja cannot be the prevelant cause of mental illness in Jamaica any psychiatrist that alludes to this needs to have his liscene revoked....."Patients he sees weekly linked to ganja use..lol "

He cannot point to any data to justify his point , if so he would , what he has is his professional anectodes which leaves his judgement questionable as a clinician.

Another Gomes! It will take awhile before the progressives rise.

[Sir X]

The sideshow is chasing spliff smokers and locking them up , wasting much needed ,manpower on costly paper work ,desk duties and fuel, providing food and housing for a spliff arrest in a penal institution to be indoctrinated into the criminal under world, put peace officers against the poorer class who use the herb as a cultural vice .Commonsense would say go after the murderers ,rapists etc and leave the herb man alone, The same lack of funding in social service , healthcare and education is being deprived our citizens because they are wasting it on criminalizing spliff smokers.

You hide behind nonsense to justify what ? ....criminalization , even babylon economist sees this,money saved can be money well spent, do we have the resources to continue along such a psychotic path of criminalization, to make the few "Holier than thou" amongst us feel good in antiquated colonial dogma.


To leave the shitstem as is and do as you say, pursue hardened criminals has been a failure since independence , in fact pre! This is the most revolutionary piece of social legislation post slavery and independence.So bold it will let the common man feel empowered,not far enough for me.

Legalise it.You have no sound arguement.