APART from alcohol and cigarettes, no other addictive substance is higher up the down ladder like ‘ganja’.

Though it came here through the indentureship period with indentured immigrants from India, the onslaught that prevails today came over three decades ago in the 1970s through the incredible revolutionary music of Reggae artistes the likes of Bob Marley, Jacob Miller and Culture. It invaded this country as a disorderly cultural expression simmered down, and its ambassadors launched its gospel, and thousands heeded its summons.
The State was dumbstruck then, and is the same today. The main concern and contention rests with the philosophy that has been allowed to blossom; its uncontained logic and pseudo-mysticism against the law enforcers of the courts.
Marijuana usage has not benefitted from any positive counter-gospel; small groups like RESCU (an anti-substance data group) visit some schools and have a Facebook presence, but have been unable to reach the populations most needed because of support. But this small but effective group will extend its hand of friendship into new directions in the near future.

THE VULNERABLE
The very populations that are most vulnerable, because of years of indoctrination by hyper-fictional chants and preaching about the virtues of marijuana usage, constitute mainly underprivileged, semi-literate young populations. The imprisonment of marijuana addicts and users outside of the rehab-info skills training atmosphere will create a worst-case scenario.
That the recent attempted jail-break fire that killed 17 inmates can be linked to, in part, a marijuana craving outrage. This alone should have prompted the conversion of an existing facility to accommodate new ‘ganja’ law-breakers. To do nothing and apply prison sentences as a deterrent is short-sighted, and reveals a half-hearted reflection on the ‘question’.
Review the courts and marijuana; earn revenue from would-be traffickers. Why am I saying this? I had good reason a few years ago, with the help of two law enforcement colleagues, to storm a drug yard. We were not looking for drugs, but caught the youth manning the yard by surprise. He attempted to stash his poison, and his oversized pullover got hooked on a nail. It was comical, in an absolute non-humorous atmosphere.
We questioned him; he said, “Buddy, I fresh.” He was from the lower East Coast; this was his “third night on de job.” The fact is, throwing people in prison will not affect the trade; there is a long line of broke, would-be replacements “ready fuh tek a chance.” But if enough finance is earned through the courts, it can help to facilitate educating fourth and sixth formers who are eager, from past RESCU experience, to debate and learn the eager way some young minds are wont to; for they are the substance trade’s next line of customers.
While the courts jail more people, and hope that the scourge will go away, without a justifiable philosophy, so will mind and spirit transform the entrenched falsifications.

NO ALTERNATIVE
Guyana is hardly a nation that offers its population swift alternatives to their grievances; it has just experienced the parallel of an 18th Century Tortuga Buccaneer, where-anything-goes type of government.
A fitting example is what happened to a friend of many years from Lodge with whom I had worked at the ‘Rice Board’. He had his motorcycle stolen. This stressful situation accelerated his health downwards; he had a slight stroke. Over the years when we worked at GRB, I knew him as hardworking; not criminally inclined or even to entertain such conversations.
In 2015, he hooked up, through desperation, with a character he would not have stood at a corner with back in the day. Naïve to that kind of world, they went to conduct a ‘weed’ hustle.
No doubt, the ‘mook’, my friend, was put to sit in the back seat with the stuff. He might have even been politely asked to pack the packages, thereby getting his finger prints on the bundles and creating the perfect legal fall- guy.
The police stopped them, because, unknown to my friend, his new ‘con’ friend had previously paid the suppliers with counterfeit US$, and this was payback time for them.
My friend is still in prison, last time I heard. But the career con-man is free; in his defence, all he did was give a friend and his packages a drop to town. So the scenario was outlined.
From junior footballers to sheltered students wanting to be tough, where is the alternative data to help them make sensible choices! They should be our concern!

A NEW HEIGHTS
The fact is that some Rastafarians of many years have confided that they have stopped using herbs, giving reasons that collaborate with standard medical reports that researchers have compiled.
Marijuana usage has moved to other spheres; claim owners in the interior lament the lack of energy of their smoking local crews, forcing them to recruit much more energetic Brazilians.
Also, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) should pay attention to some of its field folk. A pusher complained that his clients are less favourable to his home-grown natural stash, but are hooked on the instant growth, ‘Frankenstein Herb’ with its dangerous fertilizers and growth chemicals.
Official lassitudo is not going to help this problem; and neither is jail time without financial consequences. Information must come as a discourse; bullying just creates the exotic.
For a human being unable to nourish itself properly, any abused, mind-altering substance is dangerous. Without a solid childhood foundation, a fall-back return to normalcy is much more difficult.
Tax marijuana through the courts; let its revenue help finance both education and detoxification, and provide needed life skills to its most needed victims. To repair the damage of the past 30, but worse 20 years will require much more method than brawn.