EDITOR, The Tribune.

Fire can be one of the most destructive forces on the planet, but it also is one that has been a valuable asset to humanity when harnessed and wielded correctly. Many other natural things in life follow the same template – they can be fabulous tools for good or they can be misused when in the wrong hands.

Cannabis is one of them.

With that said, recent opinions expressed by certain groupings who blame some of this nation’s social ills on Cannabis are overinflated and outdated.

A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed that Cannabis is less addictive than sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.

With such facts laid bare, it reasonably can be deduced that any attempt to demonise Cannabis as a substance that is dangerous for Bahamian society at large is fraught with misinformation regarding the plant.

There are several potential reasons for what is perceived as Cannabis causing those who partake to have adverse reactions:

• While there is a tiny percentage of the population who can be negatively affected psychologically by Cannabis that has higher THC levels, these individuals tend to have underlying, often untreated psychological conditions. As the plant is a psychoactive substance, it can be seen how easily Cannabis can be blamed when someone who had an undiagnosed mental illness suffers a psychotic episode after ingestion.

• Another reason is that the substance taken may not be Cannabis at all, but could be K2 or Spice. This fake “weed” that has nothing to do with the Cannabis plant can look and even smell like marijuana, but is just dried plant matter sprayed with synthetic Cannabinoids that can have dangerous and even deadly effects.

• Next, the present illegal nature of Cannabis obviously means that quality control is a factor. The way the plant is grown, cultivated, stored, and transported through these illegal means is questionable in most instances. As a result, persons looking to procure Cannabis in the illicit market for their own edification or medication unknowingly could be consuming subpar Cannabis that is laden with pesticides, fertilisers, fungi, mites, or even other hard drugs. The effects of these types of corruption of cannabis products can be detrimental, but have nothing to do with Cannabis’s natural chemical makeup.

By now, everyone should be aware of the fact that Cannabis is a healing plant. The cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and cannaflavins found in various cultivars of the plant genus have undergone numerous scientific studies proving such.

For example, cannaflavins A and B recently have been found to be 30 times more effective than aspirin for fighting pain and inflammation, without dangerous side effects or risk factors.

Again, there are numerous other benefits that are well documented and available for public review.

Quite frankly, those who have a negative view of the plant simply are stuck on the type of thinking based on the negative propaganda of the 1930s when the plant was made globally illegal without any scientific reasoning.

President Nixon’s aide even went on record stating that they knew that the information presented was false at the time, but making Cannabis illegal suited their purposes.

Such facts are scandalous, yet so many still regurgitate the results of decades of negative propaganda, without regard to the flawed sources of their misinformation.

The Bahamas needs Cannabis to be legalised completely so that we can benefit by boosting the food, clothing, construction, medical, and energy sectors.

Our economy needs this boost and it won’t take years to reap the results. The preparatory steps for the Bahamian Cannabis Industry will create jobs overnight that will develop into extremely profitable careers.

As for the banking sector being worried about potential blacklisting by US banks, the UN Commission is about to reschedule Cannabis to the lowest drug scheduling in December – with approval from the United States to boot. We should be careful to not give up before we start based on outdated information.

The Cannabis Industry in this hemisphere is about to begin full steam ahead and The Bahamas needs to be prepared to play a key role in this region.

It is past time to get this nation fired up to benefit from this sustainable resource. Bahamians must not let antiquated thinking douse our resolve to diversify and improve our economy.

Future generations are relying on our success in building a sustainable Bahamas for their benefit.

Legalise Cannabis. The time is now.

YORICK R BROWN

Nassau,

October 28, 2020.