Dear Editor,
ROOPLALL Dudhnauth’s missive published in the Stabroek News of 12.12.15 under the caption “Marijuana should not be legalised” is riddled with distortions, half-truths, and inaccuracies, and is definitely not suited for the public discourse.
Editor, while in our fledgling democracy freedom of expression and speech is a constitutional right, it does not, at the same time, allow individuals such as Dudhnauth the right to superimpose his personal views publicly, without providing circumstantial and supportive evidence. Eg: “we learnt from several current press reports that government is considering the legalizing and decriminalising of the use and sale of marijuana for medicinal and personal purposes in Guyana”.
Which government is the individual speaking about? Surely, it cannot be the coalition government in this country, since the Minister of Public Security was publicly quoted as saying “the laws relating to sentencing have to be reviewed”. Dudhnauth, from all indications, is not aware that repealing the laws in relation to “decriminalizing”, first and foremost, will entail a bill being tabled in Parliament, subject to a “Select Committee” input/deliberation! Further, a common consensus from civil society is absolutely needed.
While the individual has included some scientific data in presenting his case, it is at best overindulgence, and, in the terminology of the Rastafarian, is a “Babylonian concept”.
Why, for instance, can someone legally obtain marijuana for consumption in coffee shops in Holland after perusing a catalogue and selecting the weed of your choice? Maybe their expertise should be sought towards providing the relevant assistance to have a similar system in Guyana, which can generate taxes for the National Treasury. That aside, brother Dudhnauth, are you a Hindu, as your name suggests? If so, are you aware that the Annual Pilgrimage of the River Ganges — which attracts millions of persons, including numerous persons from overseas — is preceded by “Holy men dressed in their traditional garb of saffron robes with locks on their heads, openly smoking marijuana from a chillum/chalice? Then, after chanting, they undress and bathe naked, which paves the way for the pilgrimage or ritual to begin! Also, it must be noted that this tradition has been ongoing for centuries, and was not changed by the former colonial rulers, England, or the Indian Parliament! So why, in Guyana, can the draconian law not be repealed and marijuana be decriminalised?
By the way, is Dudhnauth comfortable with repealing transgender laws, which are being advocated by an immediate past minister of the previous government? In choosing the lesser of two evils, which one would the brother choose?
Would the brother, if he is God-fearing, support same-sex marriage? In addressing the “side effects of marijuana”, which was advocated by the individual, I must say that, as a previous consumer of ganja, so too was Bill Clinton, a former president of the USA, and two prominent cricketers, who received “knighthood”!
In my 30-odd years of association with ganja, which goes way back into 1977, I have never experienced the “side effects” advocated by Dudhnauth. Neither did I ever inter-mix ganja with anything else that is unnatural. Occasionally, I utilized hashish and gum, both of which are derived from the ganja plant and involve no chemicalization! Never have I “free-based”, or taken any psychopathic substance, not even in the dentist’s chair, since I have never extracted a tooth. I didn’t turn a junkie or a drug-addict — falsifications that are wrongly associated with the use of ganja. In my latter years of ganja use, consumption was until after 6 in the evenings, and not in front of my children. There is no place like home.
However, why I felt it for “Durdy” Butts is, apart from his previous football background, because he was imprisoned for a period of 3 years (trafficking) for the 46 grams (approx. 1 ½ ozs) of ganja he had on his person.
On more than one occasion, 2 ozs (60 grams) were placed in the Kuchie cup of a chalice for consumption in the company of 4-5 brethren.
Biblical reasoning, black history and consciousness, the politics of the late Bro. Walter Rodney, the WPA, Marcus Garvey and conscious Reggae music were the order of the day; while cooking and eating were prerequisites which, of course, entailed a strict vegetarian diet! On the other hand, the use of cocaine; Lucifer, Son of Death (LSD) and other chemicalized psychopathic substances leaves the user thinking there is “no rest for the wicked”, because the user has no desire to eat, rest, communicate or meditate. God is forgotten, since the idle mind becomes the playground for the devil.
Brother Dudhnauth, with the concept of each one to teach one, kindly, edify me on the relationship between Ganja and the River Ganges, and vegetarianism within Hinduism that is compatible to Ital within the Rastafarian Culture. At the end of the day, I still seek knowledge along cultural lines towards our collective efforts to better serve humanity! Gone are the days when the idiom of “A good coolie is a dead coolie” was advocated! By a similar token what would have been the reaction if it was also advocated “A good black man is a dead black man”? Surely, this was never our parental upbringing; by extension, my offspring would not be taught that!
Why, in our native land, is there a “fuss and fight” over frivolous issues, such as marijuana decriminalization, while our traditional motherlands (Africa & India) are progressing comfortably? Is the brother aware that within incense manufacturing from India, “7 African Powers” is made there, in addition to another, which advertises a “ganja plant”? Should the latter be banned from entering Guyana?
Regards
Lester Sealey
