A senior police officer, who requested anonymity, has contended that legalising marijuana would have both positive and negative effects on society.

The officer, who is attached to one of the law enforcement agencies, and is familiar with the use and sale of marijuana, told the Guyana Chronicle that seven in every 10 Guyanese are believed to be involved in the sale and use of the herb.
Should Guyana decriminalise the use of certain quantities of marijuana or decriminalise it altogether, there are several good which would be associated with this move, the officer said.

According to the senior policeman, decriminalisation of the herb will see more persons being less dependent on those who cultivate it on a large scale, and that would reduce the amount of marijuana in some sections of the country.

It will mean that those who are given the approval, to have at least one or two plants in their yards, will no longer have the need to depend on those who cultivate the herb for commercial purposes, thus reducing the demand.

The officer also noted that, it would now mean that those who hide and smoke will now have the freedom to do so openly. While some will see this as good, others are likely to view it as bad.

However, he said, decriminalising the herb would see more persons smoking the herb and this could have a negative impact on the workforce.
According to the senior policeman, it can also result in schoolchildren using and vending the illegal substance openly.

If Guyana legalises the herb, it might want to look at the creation of drug treatment clinics and centres, he said. At present, the country has only two drug rehabilitation facilities, one privately-owned and the other controlled by the State.

Members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) have called for the legalisation of marijuana, but for persons to have in their possession only prescribed amounts.