By Dr. Neals J. Chitan
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The decriminalizing and legalizing of Marijuana-the so-called “Herb of Wisdom” has topped the charts as one of the hottest issues being considered by governments and people in developed and under-developed countries alike in our 21st century one-world society, where each sets precedence for the other to follow.
Whereas individual states in the US, like Washington in 2012 and then Colorado with its “Amendment 64 Vote” in 2012 and its subsequent enforcement of policy in 2014, legalized the medical and recreational uses of Marijuana, sovereign nations like the Uruguay have legalized it right across the board with Netherlands legalizing its use in coffee shops, and my “True North” homeland Canada waiting in queue to legalize later this year 2018. In the meantime, other small Caribbean nations like Antigua and Barbuda are moving steadily towards decriminalization of Marijuana, with debates and consultations happening in others like St. Kitts-Nevis.
As a Social Skill Consultant and Crime Reduction Specialist to the Ministry of National Security in the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis, I pause to applaud the in-depth work of the National Marijuana Commission of St. Kitts-Nevis chaired by Chief Medical Office Dr. Hazel Laws, which has been hosting meetings and presentations with stakeholders on a national and community level before bringing a recommendation to cabinet. It was at one of these consultations I was invited to present what I saw as the possible social impact of the uninhibited use of Marijuana in St. Kitts-Nevis and the wider Caribbean.
Although over the past decades I have worked with people of diverse cultural, socio-economic, racial and age categories, I have spent most of my time addressing social issues, bringing success concepts and inspiration to teens and pre-teens in over 250 schools in Canada, the USA, Africa, UK and from Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. As a result, my presentation to the National Marijuana Commission of St. Kitts-Nevis was predicated on my concerns for the free use of Marijuana by teenagers and its studied impact on the developing brain.
I must admit that in my experience, when the issue of Marijuana use is discussed, I frequently meet professionals and lay people alike whose passionate utterances seem to animatedly express their convictions that research and studies, though undertaken by credible international institutions are tainted by Anti-Marijuana Bias Conspirators who are hell bent on banning the weed. However, it is imperative that we take a look at the findings of some of these studies and be guided accordingly as the Caribbean undertakes their due diligence on the issue of legislating on the use of Marijuana.
Despite the emotional rallying cry for the outright legalizing of “The Herb” from certain sectors of the community across the Caribbean, as a people, we will do ourselves a total injustice to turn a blind eye to credible studies that point to:
*The inhibition in the development of problem solving skills
*The inhibition in short term memory development
*The possible psychosis and mental health issues
*The delay in response when driving
*The psychological addiction
*The fine and gross motor inhibitions
*The high school drop out rate in teenagers.
If the findings of these studies published by University of Montreal, University of Wisconsin, Harvard Medical School and National Institute of Drug Abuse carry only 25% truth to them, by taking another careful look at the above list, can you see the possible social outcomes and financial and human resources a nation will have to expend in attempting to mitigate the ill effect of these outcomes?
Again, I congratulate the National Marijuana Commission of St. Kitts-Nevis for their diligence in considering the social implications of Marijuana use and inviting me to present “The Possible Social Implications of Marijuana Use on a Nation”.
I will also like to register my admiration and applause for the proactive vision of Pastor Kendol Doyle, the Youth Director of the South Leeward Mission of SDA headquartered in Antigua, for hosting this presentation for his youth leaders during his recent annual youth training conference in St. Kitts and challenge other Caribbean nations contemplating their next legislative move on Marijuana to follow in the steps of these two organizations and negotiate for this presentation. Trust me, it will be insightful!!
For further info: I can be reached regionally at 869-662-3606 and from North America 647-692-6330 or email: nealschitan@motiv-8.org.