by Linda Straker
Grenada (Now Grenada) – A representative from the Rastafarian community believes that Grenada needs to move quickly and approve the amendment to the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act which will allow for the use of cannabis by Rastafarians in places of worship.
It also provides for people who have attained the age of 18 years to produce, supply, or offer to supply a small amount of cannabis.
Michael Baptiste, who was representing the Rastafarian Organisation for Centralisation (ROC), will prefer to see legislation of cannabis. “We need the government to be more precise towards the cannabis industry and to stop the lagging and the foot-dragging on the issue…If we don’t move quick enough, the market will leave us,” he said in an interview after the recently held consultation organised by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The issue about decriminalisation and all of those things, I feel, is irrelevant. Marijuana is a plant, and no man in the world, no Government has the right to say this plant is illegal. They have been extorting the people of Grenada on this marijuana issue,” said Baptiste as he called for the immediate removal of cannabis or marijuana as a dangerous drug.
“Come clear to the people of Grenada, clear to the people of the world and let them know that it’s all-natural. We have the best grade in Grenada, and we will produce the best grade,” he said while promising that members of his community are willing to go with the proposed regulations for the decriminalisation of the plant.
