June 4, 2014

Dear Sir,

I am of the opinion that Premier Michael Dunkley only went through the motions of seeming to reach out to the public for their opinion on the decriminalisation of marijuana so that he could garner the “youth vote”.

However, I believe his mind was already made up from the start, that his Government would only implement a measure that would guide the Police to give warnings to persons caught with small personal amounts to prevent them from being put on the US Stop List. One thing that Premier Dunkley underestimated was intelligence of the younger voters who can see through this bogus attempt at appeasement. The debate often centred around medical marijuana use, however the true spectrum of community support, was for the removal of criminality for the recreational use of marijuana by adults.

To remove the hypocrisy of it all, why not make alcohol and cigarettes illegal as both are proven to be more harmful than marijuana. Anyone caught carrying more than one ounce of hard liquor and more than two cigarettes can be given a warning just like the current proposal for marijuana, that way the playing field would be even.

To be fair and just, my suggestion is that any Member of Parliament who consumes wine, beer, hard alcohol even in moderate doses should stand down from debating the decriminalisation of marijuana and not be allowed to vote. I am presuming that Premier Dunkley does not drink alcohol because only a teetotaller could be so self-righteous.

Dr Keith Chiappa, KEMH Chief of Medicine interestingly writes in today’s Royal Gazette on the topic. It brings me to mention once again that marijuana like alcohol can affect the developing brain of young adults. It appears that the foundation of argument for those against allowing adults using marijuana recreationally is because of the consequences of underage use. So again I say, if this argument is the foundation upon which marijuana remains illegal for recreational use because of concern of underage use, then make alcohol illegal. Alcohol is the gateway to all drugs, it’s legal, it’s in homes, and it’s the first mind altering substance that underage users get their hands on.

CHERYL POOLEY

Devonshire