ST JOHN’S, Antigua – An attorney advocating the legalisation of marijuana in the region has challenged the minister of national security to decriminalise the drug as a means to protecting the country’s borders.
Dominican attorney Henry Shillingford said cash saved from prosecuting people accused of marijuana-related crimes could be redistributed to stopping harder drugs, such as cocaine, from entering Antigua & Barbuda.
“Dr (Errol) Cort, as national security minister, should in fact legalise ganja for the national security of Antigua. It is more in the interest of Antigua’s national security to legalise ganja,” Shillforgford said as a guest on Voice of the People yesterday.
If marijuana is decriminalised it will only attract the worse people to Dominica. at a time when we cannot control our borders that would be hell on earth from a criminal / murder point of view. On the other hand, if it was legal then the country would make a substantial amount of money. Y legally selling marijuana, even for medical purposes. Farmers would be back in business and the economy could seriously get moving. Plus, the reduction in its stree value would mean that these boys wouldn’t be making much money off it by sellin one, two bags but would need to have a business mentality. But god knows little kids would smoke all over the place. Personally I think reducing the class to a lesser class could be enough. We do not need to help Antigua, let’s help Dominica first. We have our own problems to deal with. If the class is lowered then it would be illegal to grow but personal use, as in a joint by an adult over the age of maybe 20-21 is their business. Anything below that age needs to be taken seriously in MY view.
Actually, this man is right.
They’re joking, right? Complete & total bull. Isn’t it bad enough that so many people are already smoking marijuana, privately & publicly? Mostly publicly, by the way. Most don’t even try to hide that fact. I am so sick of having people smoking marijuana in front of other people or in their vicinity. The law needs to be enforced because it’s still ILLEGAL to possess marijuana! How much more so will offenders smoke it when it’s legal?! We need to think this through seriously, my friends. It’s not a good idea @ all.
Dred you foolish or you too young to know or you doh know how to read to know about times when Rum was illegal google Prohibition of alcohol and Educate yourself before you make yourself look like you doh know your Arsse from your Elbow,,,
the only way the authorities don’t want to legalize usage of Cannabis is because they will not be able to place a tax on it,,,
Unlike Rum which must go through an extensive process through distillation One merely could grow his/her Weeds at backyards and the Officials won’t be able to generate any Income from its usage as they do for Rum,,,
You ever hear man had an accident because he was too much Cannabinoids???
The criminalization of marijuana has proven to be counter productive and I believe soon the policy makers will have no choice but to decriminalize it.
Check it out
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-branson/to-win-the-drug-war-follow-the-states_b_1852870.html
its good to see the passion in this debate still exist. but lets stop quoting the propaganda, gateway drug please cocaine is not the same as ganja anyone who thinks they are even similar is completely misinformed. legal or illegal the number of users will continue to increase as kids continue to realize that the thing you want them to fear is the not at all what you say its like. And for all the sober folks do you know how many of the people you entrust your life to use ganja; think about is starting the the driver of the bus who takes you to work to the doctor who prescribed your last medication and the teacher standing in front of your kid right now, are the going to become paros too.
WHY DO YOU NEED GANJA TO LIVE YOUR LIFE?
the same reason you need rum
It is so sad how people who say they have education, don’t look at thing in perspective.In life we are plague by many evils(for want of a better word)there are greater and lesser evil,with that said;many things will happen to us in life GOOD or BAD;depending on how we approach things.we all born to die some day,and if that we worry about most.we are more likely to die in an accident or eating too much junk jealous action from our fellow human,even by alcohol,than by ganja.I am not advocating the abuse of the herb, but there is more good in it than bad.The bad part of ganja is the BAD PRESS.There is always going to have casualties in all activites especially if you don’t do it knowledgeably.
wow……some people
Mr doesnt have work to do man? who is he
There is no detailed point yet… so i cannot fully agree.
However, if his point goes sumthin like ” by legalizing -herbz-, we would waste less tax money and time on police chasing -herbalists-” or “Compare weed to alcohol, alcohol kills u faster and does more damage”… aka the usual talks. (Mind u, his comparison is cocain)
On the other hand… “By legalizing -herbz-, the country would become a free port for any drug lord to launder their money and -herbz-” in terms of international security. That is the only problem i seeing.
As for the youths, what they look for 1st is not the effect that so many of us enjoy, but the rebellious nature the -herbz- represents. By legalizing it, it won’t have that nature and would become as common as the cigarette dem retarded youths gonna buy anyways.
Free Buju-
FREE BUJUUUUU!!!!
Where is this this guy going with this fruitless idea.? Have you not seen all the Parros in Roseau? Ganja is a gateway drug which leads to the white powder and needles.
Have you not think of the international effects on D/ca??
Mr. lawyer, stop your selfish rants.
If Ganja is a gateway drug then what are cigarrette’s and Alcohol?
Dear Mets,
I would be extremely grateful if you could provide evidence of at least ONE individual who used ganja as a “gateway” to harder drugs such as cocaine, white powder and needles (although I was not aware that needles are a drug) probably you mean in the use of intrevenus drugs.
I am 56 years old, married and have 3 children – all went to university -. I also have a doctorate in psychometrics; i started using ganja at 15 – that is to say 41 years ago and I have NEVER used any other; so what are you talking about?
You may want to forward other reasons for the continued criminalization of the weed, but certainly NOT that it pushes people to use other drugs, ok?
nkruma you so smart you did not realise that in your time they were not yet mixing ganja with cocaine to get people hooked? if you boast a little less you will learn a little more, sheesh!
I smell a rat. We cannot allow the “FoX” to guard the coop. MR “Fox” talking from both sides of his mouth. I am not drinking that cool aid. Talk to the GANJA FARMER.
Something is wrong with Shillingford mind! I do not see how the legalizing of Marijuana, or crank cocaine in Antigua, will become vital in the islands security.
That is a very dumb statement, marijuana is an mind altering drug the same as crack-cocaine, LSD, and all the rest, if anything when it becomes free for all more easily accessible, Shillingford, and his colleagues will all be sitting around looking at each other as zombies.
That guy is out of his mind, the old Rastaman philosophy and marijuana has destroyed his ability to think cognitively, all he can see at this point is smoke.
If marijuana is legalized that will not cause addicted marijuana and crack addicted users to detour, or lose their cravings for cocaine.
Cocaine is a more potent drug than Marijuana, I do not know of anyone who use marijuana, who did not eventually ended using crack cocaine.
Curt is not as dumb as that foolish Dominica boy is, I doubt he would pay any attention a looser such as Shillingford.
The craving takes them from one classification of illegal drugs to another!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
hey be careful he only said weed should be legalised not crack or cocaine. big difference!
Crank Cocaine Fete? Where can I get this one? Is it new only available in CA? you would know.
Do U know about dods cocaine? lol
Well, you know I meant crack right?
Crank?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah:
if you read it all you would have found crack mentioned somewhere in my comment.
I hope ( you doh using crank eh!).
Anyway DNO; I noticed that my response to the person who made the claim that Obama has legalized homosexuality in America has not been released!
The problem is that this person missed understand what Obama stated, therefore if what this person said is not the truth, then it must be a lie, because Obama has not legalized any such filth in this country, Obama personal opinions, and acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle is personal, so too is his vice president.
We need to set the record straight, and that is what communication is all about; that is why I went into detail related to a situation which took place with the surviving homosexual who thought his commitment certificate was good enough to earn him the money the dead homosexual left in the bank.
The truth should never be suppressed, or censored no matter how much it offends!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Francisco, I would like to invite you to read the Report of the Global Commission on Drug Policy 2011. It is entitled: WAR ON DRUGS.
Have a nice day.
There are solid rational all over…I saw obama legalize gays and their marriage…I think this gay stuff cause more harm than ganja
I support you
Oookay… Obama supporting gay marriage shouldn’t be compared to the legalizing of marijuana. Both are wrong, yes, but gay marriage is a moral dilemma whereas legalizing marijuana is a physical/mental health & legal dilemma. None should be endorsed whatsoever.
i never see that b4 man does kill in dominica de other day they kill a man outside crazy coconuts and them fellas walking up and down de town.. now let them police catch u with a lil weed and watch what happens
well said, and how true
NO is Antigua alone it would help in alu mer.. that would do wonders for any countries economy and security..
So, Garcon,you want to totally destroy our youth and by extension, our beautiful Dominica. Man take your proposal and put it ……….
mary-ju-ana has many therapuetic values that passes alot of the so called medical pills that we buy in phamarcies..
lie
Nonsense
so mr shillingford i wonder how u feel when u see people being sent to jail or charged here for the slightest bit of marijuana they posess, while murderers and rapists are free. system eh,
one day i hope they see the light
these group thinker are going to start with their comments opposing….
alcohol was blamed for the break down of the family unit brought about prohibition…now people thin it was insane to try to ban alcohol….their new scape goat is marijuana
Tiny…is dat you talking sense for a change?
You getting my “like ” dis time!