Any reform of marijuana law to allow easy use without strong penalties would be disastrous for Guyana

Jul 31, 2022 Letters

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Dear Editor,

 For decades in America, schoolchildren were taught early throughout their school life that drugs are bad for you and you should “Just Say No” to drugs. The Ministry of Education here announced they will introduce the “DARE” (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programme that was well used in the USA. That will be a very costly exercise and will add to expenses in the education budget. But that’s a good thing in light of increasing drug use across Guyana, that is destroying students/schools, individuals, families, villages, and community life when the locals use drugs by the street corners, terrorise the people, and commit break-ins, petty crimes, and gun robberies to sustain the drug habit. “If we sow to the wind, we will reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7), if we give a seal of approval to the possession and use of mind-altering drugs, no matter how small the amount.

A recent headline said, “Rastafarian community concerned over delay of ganja reform law

-AG hoping to wrap up selected committee work before parliamentary recess”(SN, July 24, 2022). Apparently, an outfit called the Guyana Rastafarian Council wants speedy approval of the proposed amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act for the removal of custodial sentences for the possession of less than 30 grammes of cannabis. The PNC wanted no-jail time for amounts of 500 grammes but the PPP defeated that, and rightly so. The Bill proposes that the possession of a quantity of cannabis or any substance held out to be cannabis which does not exceed 15 grammes would be punishable by mandatory counselling for a period to be determined by the counsellor.  Guyana does not have enough counsellors for that. What happens if many students show up at school with drugs? The Bill also proposes that the possession of any quantity of cannabis or any substance held out to be cannabis which exceeds 15 grammes but does not exceed 30 grammes would be punishable by community service for a period not exceeding six months; that would require extra and ongoing funding to set up a national programme. That should clean up all the blocked drains all over the country! The AG said, “The Bill we’re doing really it’s not to decriminalise but the removal of the custodial sentence from small amounts of marijuana and the Committee [is] to decide what that small amount is [and] we are trying to be consistent with the rest of the Caribbean.” Really, this is a strategy of gradualism and a precursor to full “recreational” use of marijuana, similar to strategies used by the Sexual Deviance Movement to change the majority system, starting with decriminalisation of cross-dressing and sodomy.

It seems to me that any attempt to send a message that it is OK to use small quantities and you will not be punished, is aiding, abetting and encouraging the use of drugs in Guyana. That is the wrong direction to take no matter what the Rastas think. What do the moms, dads think? What do grandmas and grandpas think about this? What do teachers think? And medical folks? And Mental Health folks? I am not going to ask what churches think because they have been in a deep slumber on everything. Those church folks who were supposed to be the guardians of morality, and a “watchman” and prophetic voice to the nation, are letting us down. They have nothing to say about the rigging of elections, about protestors beating and robbing Indians, giving away of oil resources, corruption, attempts to legalise Sexual Deviant Behaviours, and have not taken a public position on decriminalising use of small amounts of marijuana. They must be singing, “I shall not, I shall not be moved…”

Nation, why should a minority group of Rastas determine the national policy on drugs for the majority? While they may be silent, I know church folks would not endorse the notion that possession of small quantities of drugs should get a “wink” from law enforcement. Does anyone think that community service and fines would reduce drug use and addiction? If we change the law, will drug abuse go down or go up? Why do we test people for the presence of drugs and alcohol when there is a road accident, or occupational accident? Is it because these mind-altering drugs cause impairment?

If you look at recent headlines, it is clear that there is an increase in drug trafficking all over the country. That’s a big problem. Women and young people are involved now. When you have such a big problem that destroys lives and fuel robberies, violent crimes and brutalisation of people, the government is on the wrong track to appease Rastas using religion as a cover for drug use. I am glad this religion does not require cocaine and opioids. Is the use of illegal drugs a “human right” or a “human wrong?” This so-called law reform sounds like “sinning without guilt.”

We cannot do like America where they let people do wrong things under the guise of “freedom” which is really “license,” and then turn around and spend billions to fix those people who become addicted, school dropouts, job dropouts, criminals, homeless, imprisoned, etc. Look what the USA did – they started with “medical marijuana,” and it graduated to universal “recreational marijuana” allowable in some states. Now, they also face a huge problem of “opioid addiction,” consuming billions of dollars to deal with all the related problems. Same problem with tobacco that is legal but smoking is now outlawed in all public buildings and spaces. Same for the Sexual Deviance Movement. They started with repealing cross-dressing, now they want decriminalisation of sodomy/buggery, and the dominoes of morality will keep falling until deviant practices replace majoritarian rights. Guyana and CARICOM should not copy these stupid practices.

Here are some recent headlines that should cause us to worry very much: “Cops destroy $115.8M in cannabis in Berbice River” – Maria Henrietta Village, Upper Berbice River, Reg. 10 – 500,000 plants, 2000 pounds of dried cannabis, 100 pounds of cannabis seeds, and four nurseries…” (SN, Feb. 13, 2022). “CANU discovers $17M in cocaine at city wharf” – 54 pounds at Lombard Street (NR, May 28, 2022).  “Girl, 19, nabbed with marijuana at Bartica” (Inews, May 19, 2022). “Man, woman busted with ganja, large quantity of ammo” – Guinep Lane, East Ruimveldt – marijuana and several types of ammunition (NR, June 2, 2022). “Drug addict’ slaughters wife, baby … hacks off mother’s arm” – Best Squatting Area, WCD (KN, July 2, 2016). “CANU, Police unearth over $12.5M in cocaine, ganja during raids” – Haslington, ECD (Inews, March 31, 2022).  “Girl, 19, busted with 38 pounds of ganja” -Perry Street, Tucville, 38 pounds marijuana (NR, Mar 26, 2022). “Bus driver, passengers arrested as CANU seize $12.5M worth in cocaine, firearm” – gun, bullets and drugs, Tuschen (NR, March 31, 2022).

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall

 

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