ACTING on intelligence received, ‘D’ Division police swooped down on a residence at Stanleytown early yesterday morning, in the process disrupting an apparently lucrative business that grows and sells the illicit drug marijuana (cannabis sativa)to persons within and outside of that West Bank Demerara community.

A man whose name has been withheld was arrested even as the police confiscated several cannabis sativa (marijuana) plants which were at nursery stage and, significantly, removed two marijuana plants measuring approximately four and two feet respectively.

The Guyana Chronicle has been reliably informed by sources close to the investigation that, from time to time, residents in the area would get the smell of weed burning but they were not sure from which direction it was coming. However, after the police had recently been informed about the man’s operation, they surprised him in a move that discovered the plants and led to his prompt arrest.

He is currently in police custody assisting with investigations, and is likely to be charged and placed before the courts by tomorrow.

In photographs seen by this newspaper, there were two plants set in small paint buckets, while the smaller plants which were now being groomed were set in various containers, including old wash tubs and water bottles.

The use of marijuana is being legalised in several parts of the world, and some users/advocates say its use has lots of medicinal value.
However, Guyanese policy makers, and more particularly the Government, have made their position very clear in regard to the cultivation and/or use of this plant — its use will not be legalized just yet; and until such time as it is legalised, if ever, those found in possession of the substance will have to face the law, since its possession remains an illegal act.

Nevertheless there have been several discussions in regard to its legalisation, including several informal debates and discussions.
Written By Leroy Smith