Dear Editor,
It does not take a lot to excite some sections of the public or get schoolchildren kicking up trees on the playground. In recent months the issue of the decriminalisation of marijuana has created a groundswell which is, in my opinion, unfounded and misguided.
Firstly, it is clear to me that there is a misunderstanding of what is really being suggested by the Government of Jamaica and the states in America. To the layman, decriminalising and legalisation means the same thing. However, to the legal faternity and governments they take different and separate meanings.
Decriminalising means to cease being treated as criminal. As far as the common users of marijuana is concerned, the decriminalising of the taking of the drug in any form is no longer an offence, and therefore they are free to use it where and when they choose. Of course this is not the case, but little is being done to convey the real situation. This is lost in the calmer and misguided sense of liberation. This is being promoted by those ready to exploit the opening for huge financial gain. Government has some explaining to do.
On the other hand, legalising means making something lawful. Again, to the common users of the drug if it is lawful for them to use it, therefore, doing so will bring no criminal offence. However, to the lawyers and enforcers of the law there exists a major difference in the application of the terms.
What is of primary concern to me is the possibility — and it's a real one too — for international gangsters to extend and expand their criminal activities at the disadvantage of the legitimate businesses, and thereby limit the revenue potential of the Government and by extension the people of Jamaica.
There should be no doubt that marijuana is big business and that the liberalisation brings inherent dangers to those involved. So far I have heard of no organisation or body led by the Government or the business sector talking about mechanisms for control and management of the marketplace. Laws, international and local, are needed to ensure that the product and proceeds get into the right hands and that the criminal gangs are marginalised, if not totally eliminated.
P G Kaba
kaba2k@hotmail.co.uk
'Wi need fi ovastan di weed ting'
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It does not take a lot to excite some sections of the public or get schoolchildren kicking up trees on the playground. In recent months the issue of the decriminalisation of marijuana has created a groundswell which is, in my opinion, unfounded and misguided.
Firstly, it is clear to me that there is a misunderstanding of what is really being suggested by the Government of Jamaica and the states in America. To the layman, decriminalising and legalisation means the same thing. However, to the legal faternity and governments they take different and separate meanings.
Decriminalising means to cease being treated as criminal. As far as the common users of marijuana is concerned, the decriminalising of the taking of the drug in any form is no longer an offence, and therefore they are free to use it where and when they choose. Of course this is not the case, but little is being done to convey the real situation. This is lost in the calmer and misguided sense of liberation. This is being promoted by those ready to exploit the opening for huge financial gain. Government has some explaining to do.
On the other hand, legalising means making something lawful. Again, to the common users of the drug if it is lawful for them to use it, therefore, doing so will bring no criminal offence. However, to the lawyers and enforcers of the law there exists a major difference in the application of the terms.
What is of primary concern to me is the possibility — and it's a real one too — for international gangsters to extend and expand their criminal activities at the disadvantage of the legitimate businesses, and thereby limit the revenue potential of the Government and by extension the people of Jamaica.
There should be no doubt that marijuana is big business and that the liberalisation brings inherent dangers to those involved. So far I have heard of no organisation or body led by the Government or the business sector talking about mechanisms for control and management of the marketplace. Laws, international and local, are needed to ensure that the product and proceeds get into the right hands and that the criminal gangs are marginalised, if not totally eliminated.
P G Kaba
kaba2k@hotmail.co.uk
'Wi need fi ovastan di weed ting'
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