GANJA IS BIG BUSINESS

The Editor, Sir:

A popular US-based news station reported recently that 13 states in
the USA currently have 600 legal marijuana pharmacies with trained
pharmacists on-board. Other states are lined up to put it on the
ballot for their residents to decide whether marijuana for medicinal
purposes should be legalised.

People can access online prescriptions, with no limit to the amount
they want. The dried marijuana is available in an unending list of
names depending on the farmer's choice - names like 'third eye', 'air
force one', etc.

Also available are marijuana chocolate bars, lollipops, butter,
enhanced drinks and other goodies too numerous to name. It was also
reported that approximately 6,000 people across the nation tried
smoking the herb daily.

Two women were interviewed. One swore by the medical advantage of
ingesting the herb during and post-radiation treatment stages, that
the crippling cancer pains left her. The other, a teacher with
bipolar disorder, tried to commit suicide after smoking eight big
joints a day for over an extended period.

It was however, noted, that that was not her first attempt at
suicide, and also that there was no discretionary sale of the weed to her.

I have never even smoked a cigarette in all my life so I have no
agenda when I question the reasons why our country continue to
destroy the labour of our ganja farmers. Ignorance has enshrined the
thoughts of our people. Sure, there are disadvantages of smoking or
drinking the herb. Like anything on this planet, if ganja is taken
excessively it will damage the senses temporarily.

The reality of the situation is that this country is losing out big
time on taxes from the illegal sales of marijuana. Some of the
fastest-selling items in Jamaica are lighters, rizzla, matches,
cigarettes and weed. Weed is available on every corner. We could
collect some taxes there!

Some of the most modern and advanced countries around the world have
legalised marijuana. We missed the tidal waves of the offshore
banking days. Let us not miss the boat of the marijuana export opportunities.

I am, etc.,

VERNA GORDON BINNS