Ease up on Rastafarians for marijuana possession says Peter Alleyne

Peter Alleyne. File photo

Member of the Rastafarian Community and attorney at law Peter Alleyne, has reacted to the announcement that legislation will be passed in Dominica to decriminalise the use of small amounts of marijuana.

Alleyne said government needs to go one step further.

“We want that the government give a policy statement to the police force that they ease up on Rastafarians for possession of Marijuana. When you make a first step and you don’t think of the second or third step, then you are liable to get tripped up along the way because as I said, who is going to be the person responsible for all of these one ounces to individuals?” he asked.

Alleyne said it is a much easier preposition to deal with medical marijuana as an industry than to deal with what is called recreational use because in the medical field there are standards and medical trained personnel that can diagnose and determine the strengths and the quantities that should be used.

He said Rastafarians do not like the word recreational as it associates with alcohol, drinking and partying due to its relationship with misbehaviour.

“Rastafarians usually refer to it as the spiritual food and therefore the first step should be to get the police to respect the Rastaman and not interfere with their casual, spiritual use of marijuana. The one ounce is going to create complications. Let’s see how it is going to roll out but as I said who is going to be the one providing that one ounce to each individual,” he suggested.

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38 Comments

  1. Siwattu Tafari
    August 13, 2019

    Research is an avenue to knowledge as long one attains faktual evidence there is no need to argue :-
    https://hightimes.com/health/study-finds-no-link-between-adolescent-weed-use-adult-brain-structure/

  2. Siwattu Tafari...
    August 13, 2019

    As RasTaFari InI have no problem with nature plant animals humans live as one within INI environment legalization does not pertain to INI for to INI the plant is neither legal nor illegal simple ..you people with small minds go research and stop politikalize everything. Question your bible say the herbs are for the healing of the nation, how basalic, semeh kontwa , vervain , rosemary not illegal ? As Garvey said “any leadership that teachers you to depend on an other nation is one that will enslave you..(All politikal parties none not xkluded) .. from the 80’s to 2019 What about all the youths and families that were prevented a descent way of life because of law brutalization, disrespect of basic human rights. INI as RasTaFari Sons Daughters Elders Youths have no interest in the legaliztion of a plant that grows anywhere everywhere by one gifted to grow it. INI give praise to the stalwart Brethren and Sistren with families who have braved the days nights growing the plant of…

  3. Benton
    August 11, 2019

    When they associate marijuana use with Rastafari, it usually magnifies disgust when reflected my a down-pressed man. They say “Not my ambition”. So…..if marijuana was so much of a bad thing for a man, he would not turn into a Rastaman of his awareness after its use, neither function daily to dress his family wounds. Reason beyond his adversaries and understand to the T, prophesy as it relates to All. True say the rastaman reflects his smoking on the Bible with right knowledge, much to the disgust of the humbled educated man. Now used as a tool to keep a clamp on the free thinking mind that challenged the ways of the flesh. Massa won’t make his money if you keep thinking about God. He gave you a Sabbath right? So keep on serving him without righteous thought and introspective meditation, and c where you will land.

  4. Legalize it!
    August 11, 2019

    Mr. Alleyne, keep building your case, bring the petition for us to sign. I am a farmer and I’m ready to support the legalization of cannabis. I heard Mr. Austrie say that the glory days for banana production have gone. I believe this is the era of cannabis production. We should not get left behind. Once cannabis is legalized we will all benefit, the rastaman, the farmer and those who use the herb as medicine. Let us join hands and work together to get what we all want.

  5. Herbert Volney
    August 11, 2019

    I agree with Peter Alleyne. Also government needs to regulate marijuana cultivation and allow each registered smoker to grow no more than six marijuana plants at a time for personal supply and use. The evil is in the trade inclusive of cultivating large numbers of plants unregulated for profit.

    • Joseph John
      August 12, 2019

      Birds of a feather flock together. So you are now teaching your kids to smoke ganga because the “herb” is good for the soul, it is good spiritual food.
      Spoken as a real agent.

      • Rep767
        August 14, 2019

        ……………. I did not read anywhere in Herbert statement that kids should smoke.

    • August 13, 2019

      It’s no more evil to grow it for profit than it is to grow dasheen or coffee or anything else.

  6. UDOHREADYET
    August 11, 2019

    There is a lot of truth in his statement; it needs to be a regulated and controlled industry for medical and recreational use. Rather than just recreational use. People are already using this recreationally. To benefit the country it should be a regulated taxable business (individuals can grow a small limited amount of trees but businesses with paid government permits, applied for yearly and grown on secured farms regulated by the government) with a percentage of profits also going towards the hospital and medical research. the biggest concern is security and safety with additional laws restricting use in the workplace and operating vehicles.
    “Alleyne said it is a much easier preposition to deal with medical marijuana as an industry than to deal with what is called recreational use because in the medical field there are standards and medical trained personnel that can diagnose and determine the strengths and the quantities that should be used.”

  7. Rebecca V. Musgrave
    August 10, 2019

    Our bodies are the temples of The Most High God Jehovah.
    We don’t need to put anything in it to cause it harm.
    Let us live in peace with each other.
    Love Jehovah
    Love yourself
    Love others

    • rep767
      August 14, 2019

      Rebecca, does that mean any form of alcohol as well? Pills with side effects? what about the freedom Jehovah gave to each of us to choose what we do with our bodies.

  8. August 10, 2019

    “Rastafarians usually refer to it as the spiritual food”

    O yeah! So why does it have a physical form, fume, and maybe taste, because I do not know? What is spiritual about a marijuana joint, when it affects the mind just as alcoholics drinks and illegal drugs do, as I have observed?

    So the gays are calling for legal rights because they claim they were born the way they are; now the Rastafarians want legal rights because they claim that marijuana is their “spiritual food”

    Well, as far as I know, there are two kinds of “spirits” for man to choose to bind with; one is good and the other is evil. The good one can only work by “faith” nothing to do with the physical.

    The Good Spirit is from the God of Love and Holiness.

    “Spiritual food,” you say; but the kind of effect I have seen in those who smoke a joint or two of marijuana is not that of the “good spirit” which enlightens my soul. And yet that blissful enlightenment only happens by my faith

  9. Willeb
    August 9, 2019

    Wish it was Rastas that was involved. Only. Dominica would be happy but go to check all office and ministry and you will be able to know. You not alone.

  10. shrewd
    August 9, 2019

    Pastors, Priest and other Religious leaders should speak up, because it’s impossible for God to create a plant that is not good, everything he created was good. The use and misuse of the plant is another subject, but it should not be illegal.

    • Paul Blanchard
      August 11, 2019

      I do not use marijuana in any way although years ago i tried the tea for a bad flu and it was effective. I see it as a natural herb, not a processed product.

      The prosecution and persecution of young persons for the use of marijuana turning them into criminals has been counter productive. Their parents are the ones who have faced the financial burden in most instances.

      Its one of the abuses of human rights. Educate the people but allow them their right to free use of marijuana with protection in place of course for children and the vulnerable.

    • Casio
      August 12, 2019

      State and Church. They are part of the big conspiracy. Religion has been said to be the Opiate of the People. Marijuana allows you to think and question certain status quo. As a result, they dont want institutions that govern society, like government & religion etc challenged through free thinking. Like smoking weed will make you challenge God, or the PM or whatever other madness they can think of. I dont see church goers, or their leaders supporting it. Most are hypocrites and pharisees and scribes anyway. Afraid of their own shadows, quick to call on God externally, not acknowledging that God is within.

    • Joseph John
      August 12, 2019

      And poisonous plants and snakes, other poisonous animals and insects are good.
      A wise man once said .” Give to Ceasar .

  11. The Royal Rases
    August 9, 2019

    How do you implement that step Ras, I mean not all Rastas have dreadlocks, and not all dreadlocks is Rasta, How is the police to know I not a Ras, when they ketch me with more than one ounce, perhaps it would be better to advocate the removal of a law that makes a plant illegal, at what point in our history did some group of guys decide that a plant is illegal and simultaneously concocting a chemical drink legal?

  12. Child of Itassi
    August 9, 2019

    He who pays the piper calls the tune. Our government begs China, USA, Cuba, Venezuela etc for assistance where marijuana is still illegal. When it comes to marijuana laws, we have to do what they say. It may well be stipulated in the China MOU which we have not seen. Although some US states have de-criminalized marijuana use, it is still a federal crime possessing, buying, or selling marijuana.

    If we were really INDEPENDENT, we would have control of our laws.

  13. Moziah
    August 9, 2019

    One ounce recreational use feels like candy to calm down the kids. Why does Dominica have to be legislatively so far behind re the medicinal use of legalization of Marijuana?

  14. Di Londoner
    August 9, 2019

    Word! Mr. Alleyne. I’m in agreement with what you’ve stated.

  15. Ibo france
    August 9, 2019

    Antigua & Barbuda and Jamaica have passed legislation governing the use of marijuana. If I’m not mistaken, I think it is working well. Dominica can enact similar legislation but make the necessary changes as the law makers see fit after thorough and meaningful consultations with a wide cross section of the public. The present Skerrit-DLP led government is made up of ultra conservative, anti-progressive , tone-deaf, uncompromising extremists. Everything they do is to protect their power. The Red Clinic, NEP, Cool Out, Millions on Party Paraphernalia – using millions and millions of dollars to win votes. They see the people only as votes. To prove my point, look what happens during an election year and compare it to what transpires 3/12 or 4 years prior to an election. Think seriously about it, search your souls.

  16. Casio
    August 9, 2019

    I agree with Mr. Alleyne. Many do not look upon the herb the same way alcohol is viewed. Many use it as their blessed sacrament, and demand it be respected as such.

  17. mekk
    August 9, 2019

    Interesting

  18. Hamilton
    August 9, 2019

    Mr.Aleyene you must realize that until the nations government decides to legalize Marijuana, which i don’t think that you will never see ,not even if the government changes. It is only being used as an election ploy to get votes from the Rastafarian community.
    Take you Marijuana and go to the court house and smoke it there..
    I am a poto Labor party supporter and the day that MR. Skerritt and the government decides to make Marijuana be legalized. That will be one vote less.

    • Unknown
      August 9, 2019

      Hamilton doe like there, you are a supporter of the UWP team. Laborites dont think so small

      • Ibo france
        August 10, 2019

        Really? Laboutites don’t think at all, Period!

  19. Real thinker
    August 9, 2019

    No law can give you freedom. The fact that the law has to approve your actions for it to be deemed right is just confirming that you are still a slave, and slavery was never abolished, just rebranded.

  20. Bob Denis
    August 9, 2019

    In Ah small Place like Dominica, Sense it seems, is not so common. Is legalizing Marijuana on the political campaign agenda? or is being used as a Carrot for political gains, Mr Alleyne may not be totally correct with his reference vis-a-vis Spiritual Food, he tends not to remember that Spiritual Food comes in both Good and not so-good.

    • Joseph John
      August 9, 2019

      “Spiritual Food.” You do not have to follow any religion. You just have to smoke it and you will be saved. You will not ever get sick because it is medicine for body and soul. Wow, those guys who are advocates in the use of ganger must be geniuses. They should be given Phd’s , MD”s, made Cardinals and Popes. They should be C. E. O. and Chairman of the Board in advertisements firms.
      So why are people keep saying that Dominicans are not smart. I wish I was as smart than as these ganga advocates. The sure are smarter than those 5th graders. I am sure none of them curse teachers or were expelled from school for fighting. I have to join this group. Its like my destiny.

  21. solidarity
    August 9, 2019

    Yes Rasta! Ya man. Free up the rastaman and them. Skerrit, that 1 ounce thing will not work. Pure confusion. You behaving like a saul, is like one side you seeing. See the whole picture brother man.

  22. here for the money
    August 9, 2019

    I told Skerrit already, just decriminalize cannabis. Period. Decriminalize the use, decriminalize possession. There is mucho dinero 💸 to be made.

    • derp
      August 9, 2019

      Decriminalization is not legalization dude… Don’t fall for their political trickery

  23. Kalinago Justice
    August 9, 2019

    :?: Legalize and decriminalize the Herb, period!!! Mark you, I don’t support the indiscriminate use of smoking, especially in public space.

    • Joseph John
      August 9, 2019

      I agree with you. Make it available to everyone with no restrictions just like alcohol. Because it is so portable you can even take it to church and school. you will be able to smoke it anywhere and anytime. So go for it and legalize the ganga. No restrictions require you can even give it to babies directly or by contact (contact high).
      You do not have to explain the negative effects to your throat, lungs, eyes and brain because you are free and not a slave.
      Well I will be opening a ganga shop and a funeral home to make me some good jombee money. I do not even have to look like I was just drag in from the trash by a pac of dogs.
      So DNO you talk about a ganga community, is that like a village or a rural or urban settlement ? Can you post the name of the leaders with contact information ? This will be a local industry easy money for investments. Thanks in advance. This is a sure thing: portable, unlimited shelf life low investment, not seasonal, no tax(agro) grow anywhere.

      • Pablov
        August 11, 2019

        Marijuana or not, an idiot will continue to be an idiot.

        • Joseph John
          August 12, 2019

          @ Pablov,…..Some idiots like me are too stupid to understand the difference between a political attack statement and a medical statement. We never get sued for mal practice and will not be spending our money on ganga. We drink our medicine or get injected not smoke it.
          We are idiots so we cannot understand the sudden advertisements of/by agents working for commissions and fees.
          Our ethical practice is to remain idiots.

    • Joseph John
      August 9, 2019

      Oh yes, I do not have to be unemployed anymore because I can be self employed and plant and sell, even export to places where it is legal.
      I do not have to plant food. or worry about food security.
      Since there is no dress code I do not have to buy clothes or food. I will not have a car note or mortgage. Because this is not labour intensive I will have a lot of leasure time.

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