… march from Buxton to Square of the Revolution

MARCHING yesterday from Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, all the way to Square of the Revolution, some 100 members of the Rastafarian community advocated for the decriminalisation of small amounts of marijuana, stating that current laws prevent them from freely practising their culture.

Some of the reasons given for the use of marijuana by various members of the movement surrounded sacramental purposes, medicinal purposes and economic benefits.
The event was hosted by the Theocracy Reign Ivine Order of Nyahbinghi and saw marchers both young and old from the House of Nyahbinghi, 12 Tribes of Israel, Guyana Rastafarian Council and the Society of Marijuana Advocates for Reform and Treatment (SMART)
The marchers beat ‘binghi’ drums, sang songs about Africa and Haile Selassie and bore placards calling for the legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis sativa, commonly known as ‘marijuana’.

A representative of SMART, Ras Leon Saul, spoke to the Guyana Chronicle outlining the reason behind the movement’s public demonstrations. “We’re advocating that there ought to be two ounces or 56 grammes of marijuana for persons for possession, without it being a criminal offence to have it. We’re also advocating for reform and treatment and we have centres to be set up but more than that, our whole push is about re-education,” Saul said.
He went on to state that the Rastafarian movement intends to set up projects and programmes to re-educate society on the benefits of marijuana and the by-product hemp, adding that: “Here it is, we’re pursuing a green state strategy but we’re all (excited) about oil … we’re wondering why it is that this government is not understanding that a green state development strategy goes hand in hand with marijuana and hemp.”

Other persons argued that while the government was engaging with the LGBT community, making provisions and “relaxing laws”, the Rastafarian community is being ignored.

Making his input, President of the Guyana Rastafari Council, Ras Simeon Selassie, said that Rastas have marched several times on the matter and the United Nations (UN) states that it is “discrimination against Rastafari” religion for a government to deny them their rights.
He made comparisons between Guyana and Jamaica which, in 2015, became the first Caribbean country to make the possession of up to two ounces of marijuana a low-level offence through the amendment of their Dangerous Drugs Act.

Meanwhile, an official with the Nyahbinghi Order, Ras Aaron Blackman, said that he was pleased with the event’s turnout but displeased by the number of Rastafarians being incarcerated for the use of marijuana, and he called for additional support from the government.

“I am very satisfied with the response from those persons who have suffered the consequences of living under a law that has been very discriminatory for many, many decades, and it has done nothing to really save the black community. It does more harm than good to the black community,” Blackman said.

Speaking on those imprisoned, he said: “When you have thousands of young people thrown into prison during a year and you have to feed all these young people … it’s a personal and a national disaster.”

Blackman said, too, that he is aware of a bill that is in parliament that is yet to be debated and called on the government to legalise marijuana since, in addition to the Rastafarian community, it would bring much economic benefit nationally.

“If we legalise marijuana, Guyana can stand to benefit by producing medical marijuana which can bring billions of dollars in a short time to your economy … we’re calling on the President to look into this whole issue because he would not be the first President or leader to ensure that marijuana is decriminalised,” he implored.

The Guyana Chronicle interacted with a few bystanders who witnessed the gathering at the Square. Rawlston Walcott said: “The only thing I want the government to do is not to trap a Rasta man for a spliff (cannabis cigarette) and make him do 36 months and he has a daughter at home … waiting for something to eat … it’s dangerous, you mash the population.”

Another, Tafawa Jordon, commented: “Some people say marijuana helps them with their asthma, some to cleanse themselves to keep them focussed but I don’t think it should be legalised. Because, if you want to smoke it, smoke it in your house, in your yard.

“Don’t come out on the road and smoke it because if the Government … legalise it they will come out on the road ‘nuff and they will smoke it in front of the police and the police can’t do them nothing and it will affect other persons,” he said.
On the topic, however, Ras Leon Saul says that this is a misconception shared by many in the population.

“When it comes to dealing with the marijuana question they feel that everybody will just go off and burn herb. No. Everybody isn’t drinking rum even though rum making a lot of them tumble down; everybody isn’t smoking a cigarette even though it’s available. When you enact laws and legislations you can more control the situation,” Saul said.
However, it seems as if the possible after-effect of the legal use of marijuana, whether unrestricted or in parts, is a major concern for some Guyanese.

According to one man, Mr. Crawford: “You can legalise it but you must only have a little piece in your home … you can walk on the road and use it but you must not go in no public building or no shop with it. Because I was in Jamaica for some time and that is the law in Jamaica … because if I don’t smoke and I inhale (second hand smoke) it’s dangerous.”

Even as eradication measures continue locally, on the CARICOM level, several issues have emerged as requests are being made for marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes.
A 10-person committee of experts, as well as representative of religious communities, is expected to conduct a “rigorous enquiry” to determine whether there should be a change in the drug classification of marijuana.