Thoughts on the marijuana debate

Dec 22, 2015 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
Rooplall Dudhnauth’s missive published in SN 12.12.15 captioned “Marijuana should not be legalized”, apart from being riddled with distortions, half-truths, and inaccuracies and definitely is not suited for the public discourse. Editor, while in our fledgling democracy, freedom of expression and speech is a constitutional right. At the same time it does not allow individuals such as Dudhnauth the right to super-impose his personal views publicly, without providing circumstantial and supportive evidence, i.e “we learnt from several current press reports that government is considering the legalizing and decriminalizing of the use and sale of marijuana for medicinal and personal purposes in Guyana”. Which government is the individual speaking about? Surely, it cannot be the Coalition government in this country since the Minister of Public Security, was publicly quoted as saying “The laws relating to sentencing have to be reviewed”. Dudhnauth from all indications is not aware that in repealing the laws, in relation to “decriminalizing”. First and foremost, it will entail a bill being tabled in Parliament, subject to a “Select Committee” input/deliberation. Further, a common consensus from civil society. While the individual have included some scientific data, in presenting his case, it is at best over-indulgence, and in the terminology of the Rastafarian is a “Babylonian concept”.
Why for instance, in Holland, marijuana can be legally obtained in coffee shops, for consumption within the shops, albeit, perusing a catalogue and selecting the weed of your choice? Maybe, their expertise should be sought, towards providing the relevant assistance of having similar system in Guyana, which can generate taxes for the National Treasury. That aside, brother Dudhnauth are you a Hindu, as your name suggests? If so, are you aware of the fact that the Annual pilgrimage of the River Ganges that attracts millions of persons, including numerous persons from overseas, is preceded by “Holy men dressed in their traditional garb of saffron robes; with locks on their head, openly smoking marijuana from a chillum/chalice? Then after chanting they undress and bathe naked, which paves the way for the pilgrimage/ritual to begin! Also, it must be noted that this tradition have been ongoing for centuries, which was not changed by the former colonial rulers, England, or the Indian Parliament! So why in Guyana, the draconian law can’t be repealed and marijuana is decriminalized? By the way, is Dudhnauth comfortable with repealing the transgender laws, which is being advocated by an immediate past Minister of the previous government? In choosing the lesser of two evils, which one would the brother choose?
Would the brother, if he is god-fearing, support same sex marriage? In addressing the “side effects of marijuana” that was advocated by the individual, I must say that as a previous consumer of ganga, so too was Bill Clinton, a former president, USA, and two prominent cricketers, who received knighthood. In my 30 odd years from way back in 1977, I never experienced the “side effects” advocated by Dudhnauth. Neither did I ever inter-mix ganga with anything else that is unnatural. Occasionally, I utilized hashish and gum, both of which are derived from the ganga plant and involves no chemicalization! Never had I “free-based”, or taken any psychopathic substance, not even in the dentist chair, since I never extracted a tooth. Didn’t turn a junkie or a drug-addict, falsification that is wrongly associated with the use of ganga. In my latter years of ganga use, consumption was until after 6, in the evenings.
Also, not in front of my children, there is no place like home. However, why did I feel for “Durdy” Butts, apart from his previous football background – the 46 grams (approx. 1 ½ ozs) he was imprisoned for a period of 3 years (trafficking). The amount of 60 grams (2 ozs) on more than one occasion, in the company of 4-5 brethren, 2 ozs were placed in the Kuchie cup of a chalice for consumption. “Biblical reasoning, black history/consciousness, the politics of the late Bro. Walter Rodney, the WPA, Marcus Garvey and conscious Reggae music was the order of the day! While “cooking and eating was a prerequisite, which of course entailed a strict vegetarian diet”! Unlike the use of cocaine, ‘Lucifer Son of Death (LSD)” and other chemicalized psychopathic substances. There is “no rest for the wicked”, no desire to eat, rest, communicate and meditate. “God is forgotten, since the idle mind becomes the playground for the devil”. Brother Dudhnauth, with the concept of each one to teach one.
Kindly, edify me of the relationship, between “Ganga and the river Ganges”, Vegetarianism within Hinduism, compatible to Ital within the Rastafarian Culture? At the end of the day, it is knowledge I still seek, along cultural lines, towards our collective efforts to better serve humanity! Gone are the days, when the idiom of “a good coolie is a dead coolie” was advocated! By a similar token what would have been the reaction if it was also advocated “A good black man is a dead black man”? Surely, this was never our parental upbringing, by extension my off spring would not be taught that! Why in our native land, is there a “fuss and fight” over frivolous issues, such as marijuana decriminalization? While our traditional motherlands (Africa & India) are progressing comfortably! Is the brother aware that within incense manufacturing from India, “7 African Powers” is made there, in addition to another, which advertises a “ganga plant? Should the latter be banned from entering Guyana?
Lester Sealey

---

---