Earl Moxam and Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writers
THE UNITED States Government is maintaining its opposition to decriminalising the use of marijuana as is being contemplated in Jamaica.
According to David Murray, the special assistant to the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), this approach is a prescription for failure, which will only make the drug problems more complicated.
He noted that the evidence against the proposal to decriminalise the personal use of ganja is now more convincing, citing the United Kingdom as one example where the proposal has failed.
"They said the experience has not worked. They are reclassifying marijuana ... it's dangerous and it impacts our society," he told The Gleaner.
Mr. Murray also said a similar situation exists in Holland where ganja is said to be recognised in some cases as being progressive. But according to him, that country has seen unintended consequences prompting it to 'get away' from cannabis café and the distribution of cannabis among young people.
Mr. Murray said there must be a rejection of all elements of the drug culture if society is to overcome the associated problems.
STATEMENTS REBUFFED
In the meantime, Professor Barry Chevannes, a member of the government-appointed National Ganja Commission (NGC), has rebuffed Mr. Murray's statements as "most unfortunate".
"There is absolutely no substance to that argument decriminalisation will make things better," Dr. Chevannes told The Gleaner yesterday. "For example, no longer will youths be arrested for smoking."
Last year the 15-member NGC submitted its report to the joint select committee of Parliament, which includes a recommendation for among other things the decriminalisation of small quantities of ganja.
Professor Chevannes said the committee had approved all but one of the NGC's seven recommendations, the exception being the lifting of restrictions on persons and organisations that use the plant for religious purposes.
Heading the list of recommendations was a request for an amendment of the law that sees private users, including minors, being prosecuted. The NGC recommends that minors be tried in petty sessions and, if fined, they leave court without a criminal record.
The NGC was appointed in 2000 by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. Professor Chevannes says there is absolutely no merit in Mr. Murray's arguments.
