Guyana needs to stop kicking the pot down the road

May 23, 2018 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
A Regional Commission on Marijuana was established in March 2014 by a joint agreement of the Heads of Government, and has been working in many countries of the Caribbean, holding town hall forums from 2016 to meet with all persons interested in the process of reviewing the use of marijuana in the region. This was reported to also take place in Guyana in November 2017.
The Commission chaired by Dean of the Faculty of Law of UWI, Professor Marie Bell-Antoine, will be submitting its final report in July 2018 in Jamaica. However, several Caribbean countries have already made significant change to legislation on the use of marijuana, with Jamaica, Belize, the Cayman Islands and Antigua decriminalizing aspects of marijuana use.
The Prime Minister of Antigua had the courage to move for the change of legislation and also to apologize for abuse which occurred, referring to it as the “demonization and brutalization” inflicted on the Rastafarian community by police and other governmental authorities, because of prohibition.
He promised to move forward to further liberalizing the legislation for medicinal and other uses of the natural substance. Our legislators in Guyana must stop “kicking the pot (can) down the road” and follow the courageous lead of our Caribbean family to stop the abuse of persons because of marijuana use.
We need to promote the legal farming and further scientific research of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Marijuana has extraordinary medical value. It is a drug for the treatment of glaucoma, asthma, persons on chemotherapy, and for intractable seizure disorders. Its research into treating post-traumatic disorder is promising.
When used recreationally and for meditation, persons should not drive as it causes spatial disorientation. However, it is not reported to be a drug leading to aggressive behaviour, as is the case of alcohol which is widely and legally used in Guyana.
Dr. Davendra Anand Sharma
MBBS(IND) MIHE(UK) DPM(UWI) DM(UWI)
Professor Behaviour Sciences
St. Kitts and Nevis

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