By Ras Wadada
In recent years there has been a global paradigm shift in policies and prohibition of cannabis, but while the international trend continues to be one of relaxing here in Guyana, the powers that be continue to stubbornly or intentionally resist alternative policies while creating institutions of non-violent criminals.Over the past week, the hot topic on the tongues of Guyanese, at home and abroad, particularly the football fraternity, has been the three-year incarceration of a football icon and scorer of Guyana’s historic first World Cup goal at GCC, Bourda on July 4th, 1976.
Vibert “Dordee’ Butts, who has been a devout Rastafari for over two decades and a father of 13 children, pleaded guilty to possession of 46 grams of cannabis and a smoking utensil (two coconut shells) and now his freedom and more importantly the maternal and paternal care he was giving to his 8-year-old son and 5-year-old twin daughters no longer exists.
This unfortunate arrest and conviction would have never happened elsewhere, especially in the perpetual revelations of the real benefits of this most unique and special plant provided by the Almighty Father for the service of man or as some would have it, ‘The healing of the Nations’.
The Draconian Laws on cannabis, adopted from the state of Alabama in the USA and enacted wholesome into the Constitution of Guyana under the Hoyte regime in 1988, remains intact and seemingly there are no plans to amend or ease the archaic penalties being meted out daily, hence the repeated Human Right violations on the Nation of Rastafari and other minority people. Amid this oppression and discrimination of a plant, the real and already proven destructive man made drugs, alcohol and cigarette are legally available.
The clear evidence of an international reverse in the recognition of the magnitude of health, industrial and environmental benefits of the cannabis plant have seen the recent legalisation in countries like Uruguay, Croatia, Spain, most states in America and closer to home Jamaica. Argentina, Colombia and Mexico have recently decriminalised cannabis in small amounts.
It was only last month the US Department of Justice announced the release of 6,000 non-violent drug offenders, while in Canada Justin Trudeau openly voiced his support for the legalisation of cannabis during a nationally televised debate while campaigning to be elected Prime Minister. The son of former PM Pierre Trudeau prevailed at the polls and it was big victory for the ‘Legalise Cannabis’ fans of Canada.
A quick glance at Europe would reveal that in Portugal possession is not a criminal offense and is punishable only by fines and treatment referrals; Italy gives verbal warning and repeat offenders are interviewed by social workers. In extreme cases a drivers license or passport is taken away. Possession is not a criminal offense. Denmark has no punishable penalty unless linked to other crime but it is a criminal offense for being found in possession. Finland hands down a fine or gives up to six months imprisonment for possession and in France while it is a criminal offense, only about 10 per cent of cases lead to prosecution. First offenders can be held for 48 hours, then cautioned and warned, while repeat offenders can be jailed for up to one year.
In Guyana, once found guilty of being in possession, you get a mandatory three years and a fine of three times the value of the amount of cannabis. The Magistrate is not empowered to alter penalty and that is cruel. So you are fined and confined for three years at the expense of the state in an environment conducive for denigration and not rehabilitation. Imagine going in as a decent citizen and coming out a hardened criminal or an abused individual just for being in possession of a part of a plant given by the Most High to be used by all.
We must continue to fight for the dismantling of this failed experiment of prohibition that has destroyed so many futures, homes and human resources. Let us take the positive out of ‘Dordee’s’ misfortune and set a solid platform to break down these barriers of oppression on minority people. Let us establish a United Front advocating for the decriminalisation of cannabis while preparing Constitution reform adjustments to present to the Attorney General.