To smoke or not to smoke? That is the question now occupying the minds of all marijuana users and even some neutral citizens as the government’s position on the very sensitive issue is very cloudy. It’s either the use of this herb is okay to use and if not then it should be banned as “dangerous.” However, we are hearing from the powers that be “you can smoke,” but we’re not too sure, we may still get locked up.
We have heard that the plant can be processed to be used as medicine and even a relaxant to some users in times of stress and tension. Well, this is a positive. So why all the fuss? If we take into consideration the ills of alcohol and tobacco, we see that indulging in these two substances cause or encourage quite abnormal behaviours.
Research has shown that indulging in alcohol consumption excessively causes a number of road accidents, violent attacks, deprivation of family needs, abuse of spouses and children and the break-up of many families. Time and again we are reminded that “tobacco is dangerous to your health” and many smokers have attested to the fact that many mouth, throat and lung diseases have been caused by smoking cigarettes. Isn’t that why “Smoking can be dangerous to your health,” is written on the package? Thus far, we haven’t heard about any great amount of maladies coming from the use of marijuana. Are we going to “criminalise” alcohol and tobacco?
So, the rationale by the attorney general that decriminalising marijuana is going to ease up the prison population is nonsensical because it does not address the use of the herb, but the fallacies in the law.
How come gambling was illegal when people were indulging in “whe whe” but now it’s okay because the name has been changed to “Play Whe?”
Whether we say “chadon beni” or “bandania,” isn’t it the same thing? Also, we have heard from the prime minister that homes have been broken and families, destroyed by incarceration. That just doesn’t make sense. Is it the use of the herb that is causing the family dysfunction or the incarceration of people?
Are we dealing with cause or effect here? The AG said that research and consultation was done, but it seems woefully inadequate in addressing the issue at this point in time.