US pastor hits out at ganja proposal at bishop`s instalment

A UNITED STATES-based Pentecostal Minister on Saturday called on local Christians to say no to recommendations to decriminalise the use of ganja.

At a ceremony to officially recognise and install veteran religious leader, Reverend Carmen Stewart as Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Gospel Temple family of churches, visiting Pentecostal minister, District Elder A. Glenn Brady, urged Christians, in their wisdom, not to support the recommendations or any moves to decriminalise marijuana usage.

Last Thursday, the National Ganja Commission, which discussed cannabis with societal sectors between November 2000 and July 2001, recommended that Government should amend relevant laws so that ganja can be used for private, personal use in small quantities by adults and as part of religious sacrament.

But while the Ohio-based district elder admitted that there may be reasons why marijuana should be used, he said decriminalising it would only be to the detriment of local society. We, who are part of Christendom, know that such a thing is not according to the scripture, declared Elder Brady, chairman of overseas-based Godsplode Ministries. Even if they are allowed to smoke it, where are they going to get it from? ... (By agreeing), we are saying that we are giving justification to criminals, he continued, to strong approval from the hundreds of Pentecostals who braved the grey skies and strong winds resulting from Tropical Storm Chantal to honour Bishop Stewart.

The local National Council on Drug Abuse and Medical Association of Jamaica have come out in support of some recommendations but US government has also expressed disapproval, making it clear last week that the US administration opposes the decriminalisation of marijuana use and that the island`s final decision would be put under scrutiny.

Reports also suggested that if the recommendations are followed, Jamaica could also be decertified as a country making efforts to fight against illegal drugs in accordance with the 1988 UN Convention Against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Countries which do not receive certification and those which are decertified lose most of their foreign assistance from the United States and the US is required to vote against any assistance to that country from major multilateral funding agencies including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

For her part, an overjoyed Bishop Stewart, one of the few local women to achieve the title of Bishop in a prominent religious order, used the opportunity to remind Jamaicans that no honest work is beneath you. What is beneath you is when your work is questionable. Honest work is a dignity, she said. I want to charge you to be on your best behaviour for God.

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