Hi Cameen,

Attitudes towards marijuana use are clearly changing in the U.S.  For example, the Gallup  Poll  first  asked  Americans  about  their  views  on  legalizing  marijuana  in  1969.  At that time, more than 80 percent of Americans believed marijuana should remain illegal as opposed to less than 13 people who supported its legalisation. However, in the last four decades, support for the legalisation has steadily increased. For example, more recently, the Gallup Poll asked the same question again in 2013 following the legalisation of recreational use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, finding that support for its legalisation has relatively increased. Increased support for legalisation is likely to be somewhat linked with the prevalence and frequency of marijuana use.  With the exception of pain medications, marijuana along with tobacco and alcohol is presently among the most widely used and abused substances in the U.S. (Of course, I could attest to this trend in some areas in Kenya, Australia and Nigeria—especially among commercial drivers, college students etc).

We are presently experiencing, at least corresponding changes in public policy regarding the use of marijuana. These changes have taken different forms such as the decriminalisation of marijuana possession and the legalisation of medical marijuana. However, in the U.S., there have been strong changes in marijuana drug policy since 2012 when both Colorado and Washington passed state initiatives to legalise recreational use of marijuana for individuals aged 21 years. My personal concerns of such policies are: the prevalence and potential impacts of marijuana use (for example direct IQ loss, car crashes, domestic violence, mental illness and so on) and conception that marijuana use may lead a person to use harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine. It is somewhat evident to many stakeholders that the war on drugs has not only failed but has had severe consequences, and potentially fuelling changes in marijuana use.  Since it is the voters who have led the call for changes to the regulations and policies revolving around marijuana, I think the debate about its legalisation is ridden with paradoxes.

As for the second question: Personally, I would not want it to happen in my hometown (I am a Nigerian from Yoruba ethnic group) but power belongs to the people in this democratic governance era. If policy debate surrounding marijuana use arises in Nigeria, I think that the debate may get messier along the lines of politics and ethnicity—not really along medical line as such. Each country with its own socio-political woes as they continue to polarise and influence the levels of support and changing policies surrounding marijuana possession and use. I think if we jump forward a generation from now, it's all going to sketch out. We'll have a mixture of social-economic dynamics and political evolution. But over the next five to 10 years, it's going to be a bumpy road.

Cameen,

I think that legalizing marijuana would be terrible for a number of reasons. First, I have been around people who were heavy marijuana smokers. All they cared about was getting high. They put off doing things and generally fell into a rut. One person could not go to town (15 k) without smoking a joint on the way there and then on the way back. I have seen people who thought that not partaking of a marijuana joint when visiting was a social faux pas: like it was refusing to break bread. I know of several workers who were fired for smoking on the job. Anybody who thinks that occasional use can not turn into habitual use is in error. Do we really want more potentially "high" drivers on the road or equipment operators than we already have now?

Then there are the scientific studies. Proponents can decry these studies or come up with other studies that refute them, but do you want to take the chance those negative studies are wrong? Several studies have concluded that smoking marijuana reduces cognitive function and/or inhibits brain development.

A study just released that followed children from an early age to adulthood found that those that regularly smoked marijuana had lower paying jobs than those who did not. Then there is the long-term effect of smoking on the lungs, which has not been adequately studied.

Marijuana should be available for some medical treatments, such as seizures, but society can not afford to legalize it for general consumption.

JAG

 Dear Mr. Green,

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on this matter. I do agree with you that the use of marijuana should be limited to some medical treatments--even that, it sounds scary because I've heard a lot about how some patients still craved after leaving the treatments--in case of morphine.  I saw a video that shows how in a place, people learn to roll joints. I hope this rising popularity won't come to my hometown.  Thank you very much again for kindly sharing your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Cameen 

Hi Cameen,

Attitudes towards marijuana use are clearly changing in the U.S.  For example, the Gallup  Poll  first  asked  Americans  about  their  views  on  legalizing  marijuana  in  1969.  At that time, more than 80 percent of Americans believed marijuana should remain illegal as opposed to less than 13 people who supported its legalisation. However, in the last four decades, support for the legalisation has steadily increased. For example, more recently, the Gallup Poll asked the same question again in 2013 following the legalisation of recreational use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, finding that support for its legalisation has relatively increased. Increased support for legalisation is likely to be somewhat linked with the prevalence and frequency of marijuana use.  With the exception of pain medications, marijuana along with tobacco and alcohol is presently among the most widely used and abused substances in the U.S. (Of course, I could attest to this trend in some areas in Kenya, Australia and Nigeria—especially among commercial drivers, college students etc).

We are presently experiencing, at least corresponding changes in public policy regarding the use of marijuana. These changes have taken different forms such as the decriminalisation of marijuana possession and the legalisation of medical marijuana. However, in the U.S., there have been strong changes in marijuana drug policy since 2012 when both Colorado and Washington passed state initiatives to legalise recreational use of marijuana for individuals aged 21 years. My personal concerns of such policies are: the prevalence and potential impacts of marijuana use (for example direct IQ loss, car crashes, domestic violence, mental illness and so on) and conception that marijuana use may lead a person to use harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine. It is somewhat evident to many stakeholders that the war on drugs has not only failed but has had severe consequences, and potentially fuelling changes in marijuana use.  Since it is the voters who have led the call for changes to the regulations and policies revolving around marijuana, I think the debate about its legalisation is ridden with paradoxes.

As for the second question: Personally, I would not want it to happen in my hometown (I am a Nigerian from Yoruba ethnic group) but power belongs to the people in this democratic governance era. If policy debate surrounding marijuana use arises in Nigeria, I think that the debate may get messier along the lines of politics and ethnicity—not really along medical line as such. Each country with its own socio-political woes as they continue to polarise and influence the levels of support and changing policies surrounding marijuana possession and use. I think if we jump forward a generation from now, it's all going to sketch out. We'll have a mixture of social-economic dynamics and political evolution. But over the next five to 10 years, it's going to be a bumpy road.

Dear Mr. Afolayan,

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on this issue. I can now see how complicated this issue is--economic + social + political factors. I also read it somewhere that marijuana for recreation brings in billions/year.  And yes--politics gets in the way every time there is big money involved--well, in my country.  Thank you very much again for kindly sharing your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Cameen

Gbenga,

Great point you alluded to. The more our prisons fill up with marijuana smokers and the more apparent that the government is losing the war on drugs, the more that government moves toward lessening the penalties or outright legalizing marijuana usage. I have heard police chiefs say that their officers have more important things to do than to "lock up potheads". Then there is the cost of incarceration and available prison space that is needed for more hardened criminals. And we won't mention the added tax revenues to government coffers legalizing marijuana would mean. These are offset by the predicted loss in productivity in the workplace. All this means that legalizing marijuana is also an economic issue on many different fronts.

Hi Cameen,

It is already happening in my hometown.  Driven by political, economic, social and even religious reasons. 

For decades cannabis was used as a religious sacrament among the Rastafarian sect.

The use was previously criminalized but through legislative adjustments, the use for medicinal, therapeutic, religious and nutraceutical purposes have been decriminalised

The roll out is driven by our government principally with a joined-up approach consisting of Ministries of Justice, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Min.istry of Education,  Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of National Security,  Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Minister of Labour & Social Security and Ministry of Local Government.  The Justice and the Industry Ministers jointly Chair the Cabinet Committee charged with the implementation. 

The broad stakeholders co-opted to the movement include farmers, business persons, the universities, investors, government,

Man\y potent strains abound locally and hence  Scientific standards and IP protection are the responsibility of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office,

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130619/news/news1.html

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Ganja-laws--The-Government-s-case-for-reform_16895074

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/CLA-to-accept-applications-for-ganja-licences-on-April-4

Dear Mr. Clarke,

Thank you very much for kindly sharing information, links and file about this issue in your hometown. I think consumption of marijuana may become more like that of tobacco and coffee in many places in the world in the near future. I think it seems hard to contain as long as it's tied up to wealth and materialism. Thank you very much again for your information.

Sincerely,

Cameen