THE EDITOR, Sir:
I READ in The Gleaner dated February 18 that the parliamentary committee has decided to decriminalize ganja for private personal use. I imagine, however, that they have not seriously considered the implications for such legalization.
For instance, if someone smokes a small quantity of ganja and proceeds to operate a motor vehicle, let say, one of those government public transportation buses.
Now, so far if marijuana is legalized this is a perfectly plausible and legal situation. Now if such a driver proceeds to crash this bus his judgment being seriously impaired by his prior puffs, should this driver be really held responsible?
How about another scenario? A young boy of 18 (I am assuming they will at least set an age limit to their legalization plans) decides to try smoking some weed. After all one deterrent is gone now that it is perfectly legal to smoke. Now this boy experiences hallucinations and proceeds to attack a friend thinking he was (the devil). Now before smoking, was this boy properly informed that ganja could create hallucinations? If so does he even know what hallucinations mean?
Use of ganja leads to disruption of psychomotor behaviour, short-term memory loss, intoxication, stimulation of appetite, decreased ability to feel pain and mild cognitive impairment. Some studies have also linked chronic use of ganja to increased risk of psychiatric illness. Ganja can also speed up heart rate and dilate blood vessels. This can lead to detrimental effects on people with heart disease.
I am by all means not totally against the use of marijuana but it should only be used for medicinal purposes.
My other question is just how much scientific research or controlled studied data did we examine before concluding that it is safe for all and sundry to try marijuana at their discretion. What will we do in case scientific findings of some people being susceptible to psychotic episodes after smoking prove true? Will we get more doctors to deal with people with aggravated heart condition if there is an increased use in ganja? Will we put in place safety measures to make up for drivers with impaired function on the roads?
I therefore suggest using the money that it would take to create this legalization campaign, to set up programmes to prevent ganja use while driving and further study the various effects of marijuana on the body.
I am, etc.,
AVA RHULE
a_rhule@hotmail.com
Via Go-Jamaica
