Former magistrate, Tiyani Behanzin, is calling for legislation to be enacted to address what he calls the ‘special wickedness’ by law enforcement officers who deal with cannabis-related offences.
Behanzin was speaking during a panel discussion on the topic “legalization of marijuana, overdue law or overdone myth?” which was organized by the Dominica State College Journalism Club on Tuesday.
He noted that there is hysteria about marijuana, based on the law as it now stands. “Which is an amended act, looks at the things and the first is to deter the use of marijuana, supply, cultivation of marijuana, so it hates marijuana completely,” he argued.
He said as a magistrate and a lawyer, he has observed that there is a lot of abuse of persons who get picked up for marijuana.
“Because as far as they (the police) are concerned, they are less human and therefore, they could be beaten on the route to their so called court for their justice. We have a long history here of degrading treatment to people here who decide to acknowledge the Rastafarian faith,” Behanzin remarked.
“And I think we need to examine that. This is a country without any legislation that controls the conduct of an officer or any law enforcement in the manner in which investigations are carried out,” he pointed out, adding, “It seems to me that, once there is marijuana involved, all reasonableness leaves he mind of those officers who pursue it.
The former judicial officer is of the view that there is an ‘unjustified’ amount of resources deployed in ‘the marijuana hunt.’ “And it seems to me that all of the rules of drugs, marijuana of all of them should be separate and distinct. We need to distinguish between marijuana which we produce here, with crack, cocaine, heroine, these are two different categories of drugs,” he said.
Behanzin said he was astonished by arguments that portrayed marijuana as being potentially “so dangerous and wicked to our minds, when you could find that there is a sophisticated collection of alcohol within the church and alcohol is more dangerous than anything cannabis could produce,” he argued, pointing out that cigarettes, which are loaded with chemicals and ‘bad for your health,’ are legal.
He indicated that he does not necessarily support any smoking at all but said he thinks that a more careful look at cannabis is needed.
But another of the panelists, Police PRO Inspector John Carbon, dismissed the issue of abuse by law enforcement in cannabis-related as articulated by Behanzin, as totally unfounded.
“This is a myth,” he said.
“I will say here if an officer would come to you and the police would arrest you, you resist the police you do not expect the officer to just stand and refrain. They have to use force to arrest the person. So this is what I think that the counsel is talking about, but under my watch this will not happen arbitrarily. It will not happen,” he stressed.
Mr. Carbon u are not with the Police officers when they out carrying out these operations to be defending them like that. Police officers are abusive in many instances of cannabis So Called (Drugs) operations.
You should have never been a magistrate first and foremost. you have sentenced individuals while being on the bench, so why now you trying to seem like you are so concerned. well as we know you will always convince the blind ones.
Life is a journey of continuous learning, no one man can say he know it all, so while we live we learn and as we learn we change. This man change his view because he learned something new.
Crack users(paros) literally consume their stuff on the streets of ROSEAU in full view of the public, but you don’t hear of they being arrested for its consumption. On the other hand marijuana users who hide at their homes or in the bushes to take a puff of weed get their homes busted and are arrested and abused for taking the relatively less harmful substance.
Cannabis Sativa a.k.a marijuana has a potent effect on the mind and body. After one single use, the drug remains in the body for about 30 days.
It is a demotivating drug since it disturbs the synaptic nerves in the brain. You find regular users lose significant interest in their personal development, work and education, and their own personal hygiene. The use of marijuana also slows down the thinking process. It is also a hallucinogenic drug.
Biologically, it causes infertility, speeds up the heart rate, and is linked to certain types of cancers, etc.
Before self-appointed advocates for marijuana use come out in public, they should conduct research on the negative effects of the drug and it’s relations to mental/physical health and the lack of human resource and productivity….
No Independent Study Has Ever Linked Marijuana To Psychosocial Problems
Cannabis is one of the most powerful healing plants on the planet. Dozens of studies have made pseudoscientific attempts to indicate that young people who use cannabis tend to experience psychological, social problems and mental decline. However, there is no evidence that marijuana use is directly linked with such problems, according to the results of a study published in The Lancet.
“Currently, there is no strong evidence that use of cannabis of itself causes psychological or social problems,” such as mental illness or school failure, lead study author Dr. John Macleod of the University of Birmingham in the UK told Reuters Health.
“There is a great deal of evidence that cannabis use is associated with these things, but this association could have several explanations,” he said, citing factors such as adversity in early life, which may itself be associated with cannabis use and psychosocial problems.
Macleod and his team reviewed 48 long-term studies, 16 of which provided the highest quality information about the association between illicit drug use reported by people 25 years old or younger and later psychological or social problems. Most of the drug-specific results involved cannabis use.
Cannabis use was not consistently associated with violent or antisocial behavior, or with psychological problems.
In another study, Scientists from King’s College, London, found occasional pot use could actually improve concentration levels.
The study, carried in the American Journal of Epidemiology, tested the mental function and memory of nearly 9,000 Britons at age 50 and found that those who had used illegal drugs as recently as in their 40s did just as well, or slightly better, on the tests than peers who had never used drugs.
‘Overall, at the population level, the results seem to suggest that past or even current illicit drug use is not necessarily associated with impaired cognitive functioning in early middle age,’ said lead researcher Dr Alex Dregan.
Dr Dregan’s team used data on 8,992 42-year-olds participating in a UK national health study, who were asked if they had ever used any of 12 illegal drugs. Then, at the age of 50, they took standard tests of memory, attention and other cognitive abilities.
Overall, the study found, there was no evidence that current or past drug users had poorer mental performance. In fact, when current and past users were lumped together, their test scores tended to be higher.
At the risk of wasting my time (as it is usually a waste of time to argue with the ignorant), I
would like reply to your statement.
you should do research as well SOCIAL SCIENCE. could you please state the cancers which marijuana use is linked to ? Furthermore, as to your comment that regular marijuana users lose significant interest in their personal development, work and education, and their own personal hygiene; it seems that you are either a blatant liar or poorly informed.
Here is a list of successful people who have all admitted to smoking marijuana (either in the past or currently): Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas,Oprah Winfrey, Bill Maher, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, LeBron James, George Clooney, Rush Limbaugh (admitted to smoking marijuana twice), Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Brad Pitt, Ted Turner, David Letterman, Morgan Freeman, Maya Angelou, Gov. Sarah Palin, Sir Richard Branson (I could go on but my point has been made.
Given that all of these people (and more) have managed to succeed while using marijuana, I think it is safe to say that your statement was in fact WRONG.
You, and others like you choose to believe what you are told, simply because you are told so. in reality, there have been no reported cases in history of anyone dying as a result of smoking weed, whereas alcohol and cigarettes (which are legal)have repeatedly proven themselves to be dangerous substances are legal. If marijuana was made illegal to protect people from their effect, why is it that these far more dangerous substances are legal ?
Too often do we find ourselves supporting issues simply out of ignorance, and you are guilty of just that.
are you familiar with the story of “the emporor’s new clothes?” those who support the prohibition of cannabis remind me of this story; the emperor in this case being marijuana, and you and others like you are the foolish public who chose to believe that the emperor was wearing clothes simply because the were told so. it reality, the emperor was naked and in reality, marijuana is not the deadly and addictive drug that people are made to believe.
It’s a medicine…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0psJhQHk_GI
Cannabis Sativa a.k.a marijuana has a potent effect on the mind and body. After one single use, the drug remains in the body for about 30 days.
It is a demotivating drug since it disturbs the synaptic nerves in the brain. You find regular users lose significant interest in their personal development, work and education, and their own personal hygiene. The use of marijuana also slows down the thinking process. It is also a hallucinogenic drug.
Biologically, it causes infertility, speeds up the heart rate, and is linked to certain types of cancers, etc.
Before self-appointed advocates for marijuana use come out in public, they should conduct research on the negative effects of the drug and it’s relations to mental/physical health and the lack of human resource and productivity.
Besides the top 10 health benefits below, findings published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers have now have now discovered that marijuana-like chemicals trigger receptors on human immune cells that can directly inhibit a type of human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) found in late-stage AIDS.
Recent studies have even shown it to be an effective atypical anti-psychotic in treating schizophrenia, a disease many other studies have inconsistently found it causing.
1. Cancer
Cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana, inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals and also kill cancer cells. Western governments have known this for a long time yet they continued to suppress the information so that cannabis prohibition and the profits generated by the drug industry proliferated.
THC that targets cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 is similar in function to endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids that are naturally produced in the body and activate these receptors. The researchers suggest that THC or other designer agents that activate these receptors might be used in a targeted fashion to treat lung cancer.
2. Tourette’s Syndrome
Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by uncontrollable facial grimaces, tics, and involuntary grunts, snorts and shouts.
Dr. Kirsten Mueller-Vahl of the Hanover Medical College in Germany led a team that investigated the effects of chemicals called cannabinols in 12 adult Tourette’s patients. A single dose of the cannabinol produced a significant reduction in symptoms for several hours compared to placebo, the researchers reported.
3. Seizures
Marijuana is a muscle relaxant and has “antispasmodic” qualities that have proven to be a very effective treatment for seizures. There are actually countless cases of people suffering from seizures that have only been able to function better through the use of marijuana.
4. Migraines
Since medicinal marijuana was legalized in California, doctors have reported that they have been able to treat more than 300,000 cases of migraines that conventional medicine couldn’t through marijuana.
5. Glaucoma
Marijuana’s treatment of glaucoma has been one of the best documented. There isn’t a single valid study that exists that disproves marijuana’s very powerful and popular effects on glaucoma patients.
6. Multiple Sclerosis
Marijuana’s effects on multiple sclerosis patients became better documented when former talk-show host, Montel Williams began to use pot to treat his MS. Marijuana works to stop the neurological effects and muscle spasms that come from the fatal disease.
7. ADD and ADHD
A well documented USC study done about a year ago showed that marijuana is not only a perfect alternative for Ritalin but treats the disorder without any of the negative side effects of the pharmaceutical.
8. IBS and Crohn’s
Marijuana has shown that it can help with symptoms of the chronic diseases as it stops nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
9. Alzheimer’s
Despite what you may have heard about marijuana’s effects on the brain, the Scripps Institute, in 2006, proved that the THC found in marijuana works to prevent Alzheimer’s by blocking the deposits in the brain that cause the disease.
10. Premenstrual Syndrome
Just like marijuana is used to treat IBS, it can be used to treat the cramps and discomfort that causes PMS symptoms. Using marijuana for PMS actually goes all the way back to Queen Victoria.
Mounting Evidence Suggests Raw Cannabis is Best
Cannabinoids can prevent cancer, reduce heart attacks by 66% and insulin dependent diabetes by 58%. Cannabis clinician Dr. William Courtney recommends drinking 4 – 8 ounces of raw flower and leaf juice from any Hemp plant, 5 mg of Cannabidiol (CBD) per kg of body weight, a salad of Hemp seed sprouts and 50 mg of THC taken in 5 daily doses.
Why raw? Heat destroys certain enzymes and nutrients in plants. Incorporating raw cannabis allows for a greater availability of those elements. Those who require large amounts of cannabinoids without the psychoactive effects need to look no further than raw cannabis. In this capacity, it can be used at 60 times more tolerance than if it were heated.
Raw cannabis is considered by many experts as a dietary essential. As a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, raw cannabis may be right u there with garlic and tumeric.
Legalize it. I will consumize and advertize
I am happy that this conversation is taking place. In the US the medical marijuana industry is growing at an alarming rate – They are going through certification of growers, and by products, regulations, taxes, etc. When this gets blown wide open in the US we in the Caribbean will not be at the table and we won’t be able to participate in the market. This will be due to our fool hardy position on marijuana.
This is a serious discussion that’s needed. The train is leaving the station and we in the islands are going to miss it if we don’t address decriminalization of cannabis.
Check the links below – See what is going on now while we fight among ourselves when it comes to ganja.
http://nyti.ms/1iEI6ia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlE2fjoMkko
Is this the same former magistrate that was handing down harsh punishment for the possesion of marijuana, I smell a rat , maybe a dead rat or political aspiration , marijuana smokers vote counts in Dominica .Well now thats double standard and diplomatic begging .
The people who don’t believe in legalising marijuana are SICK PEOPLE IN THERE BRAIN I think too most of them who don’t like marijuana are ALCHOLICS.. THEY ARE ADDICTS ADICTED TO RED CAP RUM ETC THEY NEED REHAB JUST LIKE THE CRACK ADDICTS ETC !
Let them legalize it. In most places the price will drop and it won’t be as attractive any more. However, in DA, it lowers the productivity quotient but definitely. Too many idle minds sitting and smoking.
All over the world they legalizing BUGGER so what happen they cannot legalize MARIJUANA, THE HERB OF THE NATION, RASTTAFARI
Well said man.
Marijuana will be legal sooner or later, we will see it happen in our lifetime. Anything that start in America will end up everywhere, Pro inspector maybe not under your watch but it will happen like it or not.
Prejudice against Rastafari still exist withing law enforcement in Dominica, especially in regards to ganja. Police in Dominica has always and still unlawfully beat, harass and discriminate against Rastafari, on every front, especially Ganja related issues.
As resident of the UK Prince Charles is vocal advocate on homeopathic medicine and is a supporter of cannibis as a form of relief for various ailments. Paraguay,Colorado and Washington USA have made marijuana accessible to those who need this natural medication. Dominica should decriminalise marijuana a natural herb and seek out the man made chemicals Cocaine,Crack and Heroin. As a herbalist this is better than being a rum head.
In 22 States in the US some form of cannabis use is legal right now. In many of those states limited cultivation is legal. Uruguay as just legalized its use for its citizens. Often drug enforcement units are rewarded for their selective prosecution of this law. In the US, marijuana possession is a crime enforced with far greater frequency on the black and Latino populations. If a percentage of fines paid go to the police it amounts to a bounty. In Jamaica right now there is an effort to profit from the study of the known and yet to be discovered beneficial medicinal properties of the plant. How about Dominica taking a bold progressive stand. Why not explore the social and economic possibilities of a legislated liberalization of the law concerning local cultivation, medicinal preparation, and manufacture of products made from hemp and cannabis. Consider the potential revenues that could be gained
by such an enlightened stance?
The disparity in Law enforcement is of serious concern. The arresting officer is paid a percentage of the fine imposed by the court for drug related cases as opposed to nothing for other cases – one of the anomalies of our legal system. He has, therefore, an incentive to prioritize “drug chasing” as opposed to uniform law enforcement. So disputes between neighbours can escalate into violence simply because the police did not show up when they were called to intervene.
As I understand it Police officers are paid a salary for law enforcement. My interpretation now,based on my personal experience in seeking police assistance, is that they are paid a salary for wearing the uniform.
This is a very serious accusation, which I find very difficult to believe Can someone in the judiciary or police force confirm or deny the veracity of this claim? Thank you.
For the person wanting to make Mr Behanzin the problem, be rational and logical in your views and opinions. He never said he was Pontius Pilate.
He was a Magistrate who interpreted and applied the laws that were on the books,he definitely did not legislate them?
All he is saying is amendments can be made to some and they should reflect our present times.
The same way we detest the fact that murderers are on bail andstill committing crimes. Our laws need to be reviewed. Ganja man doing hard time and all other hardcore vermin all over the place still threatening folks.
Let Behanzin talk, he was invited to the dialogue.
What’s next opium? And yes they use opium to make morphine that we all use when we have surgery. Let’s leave well alone my people. We try to be like the USA but remember the USA makes it own money and can afford to send it’s addicts for treatment.
Man do you need an egg thrown at you??? DUMB NYC !
what do u think nova-cane is? every time u go to the dentist and they inject ur mouth its cocaine which is used. any drug that ends with the name “cane” or “caine” is made from the coca plant. your point is dumb. Opium, cocaine, heroine are all processed drugs that come from natural plants which also have medicinal attributes. dont ever think that the Medical Society doesnt know this. Weed when used is in its most natural form…whether smoked or drawn or eaten. No chemical no processing, no long term side effects. just grow pick and use. alot of you who do not approve of this or dont like it are ignorant (by choice or force)of the positive aspects. maybe you grew up or were around in the 70’s and are still afraid of people with dreadlocks. Maybe your church bishop or minister is so adamant against it… you feel like if you support it you will transgress against your church or God himself. I believe that if all our leaders smoked weed or consumed… a lot of our problems would have quickly been eradicated. in time IT WILL BE LEGAL, and all of you who are against it…well..tuff luck. Maybe then you will realize your war against it was futile. #morefire #loaddechillum.
Aye Aye Tiyani alive then i thought skerrit silence mista..
Seems mr singing for his dinner!! Things tight!!!
Do not worry Tiyani Behanzin – the day is quickly approaching when the Caribbean will be importing Cannabis; its medicine and other products from the USA, Europe and Latin America – the ‘myth’ shall be exposed to those whom ignorance is a virtue! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25328656
and that time we will try to jump on the band wagon after the horse has bolted, and every other country has already developed their systems for exploiting weed. but of course that would be too late for us to catch up much less compete… we just slow and have a clueless generation with too much power in our region that is why we are getting poorer and less significant. time to modernise and rethink our approaches
More of the myth exposed http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/12/10/n-y-lawmakers-propose-legalizing-marijuana-making-it-into-a-cash-cow/
Garçon why is there Arbitrary rules against anything that comes naturally from the earth, that is not refined in any way!!!
Guess all them bush-tea we use in Dominica for medicinal purposes should be banned by the Medical Councils of the world den,,,
We living in some interesting times Marn sure DNO not gonna make this available to the Public and Marn sure this topic didn’t come up at the discussion:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/11/us-uruguay-marijuana-vote-idUSBRE9BA01520131211
it is time to stop puting Young people in jail fot a joint
Légalisation for de gangja herb
It is well known that one of the immediate effects of smoking canabis is impaired co-ordination with negative impacts on such as activities as driving a vehicle or operating machinery in a safe manner. I certainly would not want to take a flight with a pilot, who is under the influence of canabis for that very reason.
“There is strong evidence to support the hypothesis that canabis consumption is a risk factor for the development of psychotic symptons and schizophrenia.
A Swedish study of army conscripts demonstrated that canabis use by age 18 led to a six-fold increase in the risk of schizophrenia in later life” ( source: “The Psychiatric Times”)
Is canabis additctive?
“People can become psychologically dependent on canabis, meaning that canabis becomes far more important than other activities in their life.”
(source: “Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia”.
Obviously, people will decide for themselves whether or not to partake of this hallucinatory drug but to profess that it is harmless would be a mistake.
the studies and the countries you quoting are still more lax on weed than Dominica is. Also a point you seem to be missing is that Alcohol has much greater links to psychosis than weed has, and the fact that different research has been going on for the last 40 years and they can’t say for sure there is a link with weed use and madness is further demonstration that that is a farce. People like you who can’t think of a logical reason for trying to tell another adult like yourself why they can’t consume the inflorescence of a plant which grows quick easily in our climate usually are the first who look for those fake research. lol, we need to move forward as a nation and region, even if no one ever smokes another joint again, there is money to made by exploring the alternative uses of the plant, why not hemp paper or fabric, or maybe even feed for certain livestock, what of the oils and other alcaloides, how can they be used… maybe if weed wasnt this untouchable plant, a local researcher could have given scientific data referring to much more than just the perceived impact of smoking it
u sound like someone who has never even drank the tea…much less for tried a j. Ignorance is bliss.. there are studies also that show the opposite. Ask Dr. Sanjay Gupta from CNN NEWS
Behanzin’s rulings as a magistrate had to be in line with the law and guidelines set by precedent. Had he let his personal beliefs about decriminalization affect the outcome of his cases, it’s possible that he would be in breach of some professional code of conduct.
To chastise him now for those rulings is unfair, in my opinion.
I agree with most of the points he made – we need to dispell the myths and hysteria surrounding the use of marijuana. We should go a step furhter and look at ways of using the plant and its derivatives as serious economic drivers.
Mr. smoke a joint before he give that speech man. You know there is alcohol in the church, you should know how it is used to. No need to say more.
“Because as far as they (the police) are concerned, they are less human and therefore, they could be beaten on the route to their so called court for their justice.We have a long history here of degrading treatment to people here who decide to acknowledge the Rastafarian faith,” Behanzin remarked”.
While I do believe that the Marijuana laws need to be revisited, I do not agree with the statement above. With the advancement of technology and medical discoveries, it has been shown that Marijuana may have some benefits in treating some chronic conditions. I do support the decriminalization of a small quantity of Marijuana for personal consumption. The smokers have to be mindful of where they smoke; and therefore there may be some restrictions among others such as; no smoking in the vicinity of schools and on school grounds, public establishments e.g. restaurants, public transportation etc. The laws governing the trafficking and sale of large quantities of Marijuana should be strictly enforced with stricter penalties and ceasing of properties proven to be gained by the sale and trafficking of Marijuana should be enforced.
My humble opinion. One Love Dominicans!!!
I agree with Tiani, legalize the thing or decriminalize it. The country of Uraguay just legalized Marijuana on a whole. Carbon is in denial, he very well knows the disproportionate amount of beatings of marijuana users since the 1960’s and 70’s. It’s a witch-hunt that has never detered Marijuana use, it is rediculous. And I hope Tiani himself uses his discretion in sentencing and charges on weed users if he becomes a judge again.
It is time these Cops admit to what they do to people they ‘pick up’ in relation to marijauna. These cops do target these’ suspects and harass them at any and every opportunity. We all know the abuse inflicted by these cops and they go on to talk about resisting and all these crap.
The abuse of alcohol is on the rise in Dominica, and it’s time the authorities do something about it. It seems that is all our youth do in their free time(and they do have plenty), is drink, and even go on to operate vehicles in that state and we all know what can transpire from that. It seem smoking and drinking is part of being a cop, so who is going to put up a fight against it?
ya respect man…cocaine tehy have to hustle not the zeb
The question put to Behanzin is, If you feel so strong that the law is unjust, why were you not showing this by giving minimal sentences to persons brought before you as a magistrate?. At the time you were singing another song to the defendants. Now it seem you are looking for a place in the lucrative business of defending drug dealers. I see the whole of this society is about self when they are in a particular situation. Your argument of alcohol and marijuana is sound and I agree.
@Unfortunate As a Magistrate, he was simple enforcing the law. That is why he is saying that the laws need to be amended.
One Love Dominicans!
Simply enforcing the law? So was Pontius Pilate my friend.
It does not really have to be you know. He was magistrate and had to do what he had to do its part of the job. Also people can change, we can mature as individuals. That is one of our problems as a society. We are either white or black, rigid. I have done things that were wrong in the past and regret them.
I think its commendable his position. We should legalize it. follow the footsteps of Uruguay. As on politician put it,” its like a football game with no rules. We need to put in the rules and make it a lucrative trade to change Dominica’s economic woes and make a better life for our people
Well as you may well agree crime keeps these guys in business. The criminals makes things rather interesting for them so why not and the chances of being paid is greater than if it were a money hungry female fighting for what’s not theirs. He wants paying somehow
Ok! but what he is proposing would lead to less money for the Legal fraternity including himself.
Inspector Carbon what is the myth? Our minds have been conditioned to believe that marijuana and the persons using it a no good criminals.
So now it is time for us to reassess our belief and position,starting with the “Dread Act”. The nation needs to be educated, the lawmen need to understand and rethink this thing and be the leaders in bringing about change.Because with our imput or not , marijuana is the hottest topic around the globe right now.
Mr Behanzin is simply saying ,go back and retool this law and the treatment meted out to so called offenders, like it or not a decision is about to be taken concerning the Herb.Are we followers or leaders.
A discussion that could lead to the legalization of Ganja in DA is well overdue
Uraguay has just legalized Cannabis…check the news!
police commissioner i will happen on your watch you think the man not talking from pure knowledge ? he has been a judge and is a lawyer he have heard many complaints and probably seen many tears ..police officers some of them just think they can do what they want and get away with it.
Ask groovy bat ( aka Angelo Allen ) he knows.
I agree with % Tiyani as far as I know most Dominicans use Canabis in one way or the other and the goverment needs to free the country this wrong and change the law.
I couldnt agree more! The question that needs to be answered now is WHY? Is it because marijauna is the drug choice sold by the poor, while crack, cocaine n heroine is the drug choice sold by the rich and famous who hold very high positions in society? It is easier to search and ramsack those 2 bedroom homes to find less than a pound of herb than to search those mini castles that are well guarded where kilos of crack cocaine are stached? Guess we all already know the answer!!!!!!!
Rightly said.
With that knowledge you should call crime stoppers otherwise you are no better than the criminal you are protecting.
The thing is the police system and police in general in Dominica they worship rum and they praise cockain these are their GODS so they will so any thing to keep their gods on top meaning kill the weed , don’t let it grow , and if they meet any young man or woman in the bush and they run don’t even think just aim for the head and take the best shot. That’s what they do. Ask People in DA and u will hear stories. THIS MUST STOP !!! If it doesn’t then MANDELA did not mean a thing to Dominicans. U doe c how Mandela hugged the raster on d TV?
In this Country you have to learn to verify the stories that you hear.
speaking from both sides of your mouth. When you were magistrate people were afraid to come before you for simple marijuana charges. Giving people all kinds of ridiculous fines and sentences.Please have a seat and be quiet.
do you expect him to change the law from the bench, no he cant, he has to deal with it because it is the law, don’t be an idiot, politicians is who makes and amend laws, not magistrates.
As a magistrate, he was commissioned to perform his duties. He was not acting on a personal level when he worked for the judiciary system, there is a difference. People like yourself need to have some knowledge and understanding of what you comment on, before sticking your foot in your mouth.
ll continue to distort Behanzin’s long standing message. He was one of those magistrates who gave suspended sentences for small amounts of weed, but was tough on crack and cocaine. All the man is saying is that we should nopt waste soo much resources on fighting weed when alcohol and cigaretts are legal, both od which cause more harm
You seem to be incapable of logical thinking. A Magistrate deals with the provisions of the Law in court, not with his personal opinion.
In a public forum it is perfectly reasonable for him to express his personal opinion. There is no contradiction in this.
Why are you naive to believe such thing and accepting it as logic. You have to remember, that thing called The Law with a capital L is open to interpretation and logic tells me anything that is open to interpretation can be influenced by personal opinion, especially by someone given authority to render a decision in a dispute.
Yes, he has a right to express his opinion on cannabis in a public forum as a Lawyer,but it would be inappropriate for a Judge or Magistrate to do so in a public forum while in office.Let us not forget that when he was a Magistrate he attend public forums and rallies portraying him self as crime czar.Do you believe that when he was a Magistrate handing out these outrageous sentences he did this within the provisions of The Law,not allowing his personal opinion to interfere with the process.
This is so difficult to understand from Mr. Behanzin. For someone, who was adamant on enforcing the laws of the land harshly, without fear or favour he now wants to make an exception for marijuana?
I have a suspicion this has more to do with sentiment and sympathy for his Rastafarian brothers than any real logic. Whatever your arguments Mr. Behanzin, this is a mind altering drug,that is why the brothers take it and no less dangerous than alcohol abuse, which your religion also forbids.