Garth A. Rattray I FOUND over 800 terms for marijuana (from 'acapulco gold' to 'zut') on the Internet. A great deal has been said about it recently. Although the National Commission on Ganja submitted its findings over two years ago, there have been no changes in the legislation to decriminalise the personal and private use of weed. Because marijuana is still illegal, Mr. Patrick Smith of the Carreras Group of companies in responding to the proposed increased tax on cigarettes, reportedly said that people who find cigarettes too expensive might turn to cheaper products like ganja and crack-cocaine. Of course, this scare tactic is without merit since we know that cigarettes kill far more people than all illicit drugs combined.
Marijuana is highly stigmatised yet it is used widely throughout our society. The middle and upper class people who use it do so clandestinely but Rastafarians and the lower classes do so overtly and therefore the weed has come to be associated with the Rastafarian religion, on the one hand, and seen as the poor man's narcotic, on the other. I must admit to some personal prejudice against the herb because I don't believe in psychological props of any kind. I believe that our God-given human spirit is supreme and, with the exception of illnesses like severe anxiety and/or depression where prescribed medications are necessary, it should be the indomitable source that we rely on for strength.
The use of cannabis was first documented as a herbal medicine in China in the first century A.D. and, in his very informative Gleaner piece on the topic, Dr. Wendel Abel (Consultant UHWI psychiatrist) related that ganja was introduced into Jamaica by the East Indians circa 1845. Today, marijuana is used for recreation, relaxation, religion, pain relief, anti-emesis, glaucoma, asthma and meditation.
The most powerful argument for decriminalising marijuana is the fact that it is far less dangerous than legal (and taxable) recreational drugs that have absolutely no medicinal benefits. Additionally, it seems exceedingly foolish to prosecute someone, subjecting them to our criminal justice system and branding them with a permanent criminal record for having a little weed in their possession. Possibly the only 'gateway' property of ganja is that currently those who use it for personal reasons are treated as criminals, and once exposed to jails and prisons, some petty criminals become hardened by the very system designed to prevent crime.
Decriminalising marijuana will not alter its pharmacological properties. Cannabis is not totally safe; it can cause cancer if used in excess. Overuse can produce toxic psychosis and if someone is prone to a psychotic break, the use of ganja may tip him or her over the edge. Smoking weed when pregnant risks the health of the baby. Apathy is a big problem, especially among developing teens. My major concern is that people will fail to exercise personal responsibility if and when the substance is decriminalised for private/personal use.
With freedom comes personal responsibility, ganja should be for your highs only. Others within the homes must not be exposed to marijuana smoke. Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable and must be protected at all times.
Since decriminalisation is on the horizon, the science behind marijuana must be made public so that it may be transformed from a mystical sacrament and euphoric agent into the mind-altering compound with possible side effects that it is.
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
