A group of individuals against the use of marijuana for recreational purposes is about to turn up the pressure on Government to rethink its position to have a referendum on the matter.
So far, the Mia Mottley administration has announced that a medical cannabis industry would be developed in Barbados and a public vote would decide if the country should legalize quantities of marijuana for recreational use.
No date has been set for the referendum, but President of the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) Sharmane Roland-Bowen said that organsation was in the process of forming a coalition against the recreational use of cannabis.
“This is not about the medical marijuana. It is about the referendum for the recreational marijuana,” Roland-Bowen told Barbados TODAY, while pointing out that the new group, once officially established, would be embarking on a national education campaign.
“We want when this referendum comes people are educated, that they go into it with knowledge and not out of ignorance. We are being proactive even though the referendum date has not been announced,” she said.
While the road safety advocate did not give a date for the official introduction of the alliance, she said so far they have a medical doctor, psychiatrist and “religious persons” on board.
She said she was hopeful to get the support of insurance companies and the full support of all religious-based organisations.
The alliance, which is to be led by the cash-strapped BRSA, is to be called “the Coalition for a Safe, Healthy and Productive Barbados”.
“The aim of this association, where we are inviting persons who are against this legalisation to come on board and let us work with one voice, not for us to lie down and take this, because this can greatly damage our future generation,” said Roland-Bowen.
“So this coalition aims to provide safety. We want people to be safe on the road and safe in their homes. Also healthy because we know what drugs can do to a person’s mind. So we want them to be safe, healthy and for the productive part of it is where we want people to live productive lives and reach their true potential, not to let drugs drag them down,” she said.
Roland-Bowen argued that there was still not enough education on marijuana and its effects, which she said could have devastating effects.
“The Government will come and let us know what they want us to know, but this coalition, we are speaking what they want us to know and what they don’t want us to know. We are going all out because it is about our children and grandchildren and we are saying no to it,” she said, adding that research showed that marijuana use could contribute to road fatalities, domestic abuse and the use of other drugs.
However, President of the African Heritage Foundation (AHF) Paul Rock told Barbados TODAY in a recent interview that while he agreed there was need for more education on marijuana, he was eager to see the legalisation of the drug for recreational and sacramental use.
Paul said he was disappointed that the development of a cannabis industry in Barbados was taking too long, and that the country was now “playing catch up”.
“The prohibition has never been about health, it is about economics. So right now, what I would like to see within an amnesty would be for personal possession for about five ounces and being able to plant at least 15 trees,” he said.
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Where is the roach?
bring the baygon
We need a referendum for both the medical and recreational use of this illegal drug. The psychological, physiological and social adverse effects of marijuana use are well documented. We don’t have to look too far to see these effects at play already in our society.
This foolishness must be stopped.
Wtfid
She is about 300 years late. Where was she when the manufacturing of rum began in Barbados?
Another academic dunce!!!
Sharmane Roland-Bowen You are clueless if you decide to march down this path. Please stop allowing an underground market to exist by your ignorance on the topic. Public sentiment is not in your favor. Debate me.
I waiting for the referendum on liquor LOL. Stupse this kind of backward thinking is not what we need right now. Stop demonizing the plant stupse
Anything Almighty God created is Legal and does not need a referendum
Now these are the individual’s that need sending home these right hay is the problems in government.
To think that it isnt being smoked currently is foolish. This is way decriminalization of the drug…frees up police time and resources, can be taxed to bring in extra revenue for the government, puts less pressure on Dodds. It’s a win win all round.
I’m not surprise that her organization is cash strapped. Bout the place focusing on things that ain’t got nutting to do wid she. Should put that energy into fund raising ☕️
It’s about time it became legal, get people to grow it under license, get up shops to sale it, add tax on it to put back into the health sector, take Amsterdam, Canada & Jamaica for example, as for more domestic abuse your joking, it’s a relaxer, if anything crime will be cut right down, most shootings are drug related, come on sort it out, it’s an obvious move to legalise a natural plant, alcohol is the root to evil! The amount of people that are currently in Dobbs could be released, the police could start putting their time & resources into more important crime instead of charging them with a bit of herb, complete waste of money, I’m sure the police would be happy for the legalisation of marijuana, I would guess that a lot mo tourist would go there too from countries that have not yet legalised it too!! Get a move on Mia, you know it makes sense
Put four people that don’t like each other in a room with alcohol and you get a big fight. Four people smoking a joint and you get harmony. Nuff said. This woman just out of touch.
Ssttteeeeuuupppssseee recreational rum is legal though…these uninformed nitwits are in charge of something? What rock do they live under?
stupse, another Mary-Ann Redman
I was in Toronto last month and in my being naive, I thought since the recreational marijuana was legal I would be seeing people doing marijuana while I was out and about, I really thought there would be wide spread use in Toronto, people I did not see it, I asked the residents and they explained that legalizing for recreational use does not mean that there will be a massive increase in persons in the country doing marijuana, maybe we should stop, think, and carry out some scientific research before we decide to put up resistance. If you are going to resist please do so in an informed manner.
I am not on either side I am all for decisions being made in an objective manner.
Barbados backwards
Barbados is a sell out country them sell we out
Can’t wait to visit Barbados again when all uses of this simple plant are legal.
Some people just need LOVE and a HUG ….
if NOT everything is a DAM CRUSADE to save the world.
I CAN UNDERSTAND THEM STANCE. GIVING WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MARIJUANA ABUSE WITH KIDS UNDER 15 YEARS .
Woman ppl are already smoking like if it’s illegal.whats your point.have u heard of any increase of accident s in Antigua or any of the other island that have made the illegal recreational use.what about the pvs drivers drinking and working all day on the rds with passengers on board
I see nothing wrong with the lady’stance I am one who is against the legalization of Marijuana. Those who share this notion that by legalizing this narcotic drug we will have fewer problems and as someone in this thread said it will free up the police to deal with other matters, I do not subscribe to that view. I can envision a myriad of problems with this rush to make this drug so readily available in both of its forms and only time will tell, there are those who are at present clamouring for the legalization of Marijuana and it obvious that many of them are already indulgers, by the way, we are facing serious problems in the school system and I am certain that there have been instances where teachers and others have cited drug use as one of the problems and other forms of deviance so when it is legalized will there be exemptions for children and if so how will that be combatted ? Especially when we have laws which speak of selling Marijuana within a hundred yards of a school premises, there are too many things that are being seemingly rushed in this country at present and haste does make waste, these proposals need serious thought and yes the general populace must be involved and a referendum sought on a matter such as this lest we find ourselves as a country in the doldrums.
i just waiting for the fallout. don’t tell me i have to help pay for the walking zombies who can’t deal with it either. all who want it please take care of them. as for me i will not be inhaling. already high on the I AM.
Why u don’t hv the same energy for alcohol
Where ignorance is bliss
Jean PG Smith your take please
i drink grape juice. i feel the same ’bout alcohol.
She really believe tht ppl who smoke weed don’t smoke while driving where the road fatalities
All who want ta smoke marijuana in Barbados does smoke um radda legal or illegal. I hope dis coalition en got na secret agenda …..
Clearly these people have nothing else to do.
This is anudda article dat shud not have been published far less entertained nor written.
why the emphasis on “religious leader”, shud we supporters/users quiver in our knowledge of the healing herbs?! plz. wunna come from a place of TOTAL ignorance in as it relates to marijuana, it’s usages and our responsibilities.
Please stop and slowly exhale, all of you pro dopers. Have any of you read any of the scientific studies on the adverse effects of marijuana?
The Government should start building a massive “mad house” all like now.
I realize that all the focus is about money and no morals. This little country is try to do all the things that the big counties are doing, without know the consequences of what they are doing or getting into.
Marijuana is not legalize in this country and we have so many zombies, retarded and unstable persons in this country by the use of the same plant, if they legalize it, can you imagine what our schools, work place and the attitude of people would be like.
Barbados has to being a COPY CAT and A FOLLOWER.
@GABRIEL ABED, a watchful eye has to be kept on you.
Why are we being fool that marijuana heals is a medicine that heals sickness. Total nonsense
Marijuana in that for has other additive to it, so who is to say that it the marijuana that is the effective ingredient.
Well done to the people who talked about the rum. We can also talk about the tobacco and we also need a coalition against the homo thing too.
After reading most of these comments, tell me Mrs Roland-Bowen, whose interest and welfare were you seeking to look after?
What is she talking about. Everyone who wants to smoke weed is doing so right now and that has been the case for years. I she can stop weed from getting into the hands of the average weed smoker, she should have done so 40 years ago. It is good that she wants to educate the masses about the ills of weed. But that also should have been done ages ago.
I can bet that this is all about feeling morally good and not about the well being of our citizens. Because having weed illegal is doing nothing but forming gangs amongst our youth causing them to kill each other and costing our judicial system to be overburden. It is also causing the country millions a year to police and prosecute the movement and use of this bush.
Legalize, set the rules of where and it can be used and tax the crap out of it. Stop the madness!
To be clear. I DO NOT SMOKE ANYTHING BUT HOT FOOD. I DO NOT DRINK ALCOHAL.
Legalizing weed is not going to make non-smokers start smoking, in the same way legalization of tobacco didn’t cause us all to smoke cigarettes. same with alcohol.
If it is legalized, it is actually easier to regulate and control where is can and can not be used. Given time fewer people will smoke it, and the crime will drop… especially the shootings.
So stop fare mongering and start being practical and pragmatic on what is actually best for the people of this country. As it is we have wars between our young dope dealers and war between them and the police. Can we please stop trying to force everything and just let people have a choice to destroy their own lives if they choose to do so?