Let's face it; Even the people we expect to be the least likely to are smoking marijuana. Be honest with yourself and you will have to admit that when you look around your community whether you live in the ghetto or a gated community people are lighting up the spliff and are more open about it now than a couple years ago. Police officers, soldiers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, lecturers, businessmen, journalists and of course students in university, junior and senior secondary and those prestige colleges and convents, folks are all burning the herb.
Of course the most prolific "herbalists" outside of the Rastafarian community can be found in the entertainment arena, but while some are open about their affair with sensi, many are still in the closet. There are also those who will sing the pro-weed songs on stage, but if asked if they smoke simply say that they were only singing an song and it has nothing to do with their real life.
While marijuana is a major factor within the religious practice of Rastafarians, other people use it simply to get a high. The truth is, for a devout Rastafarian it is an insult when people abuse marijuana just for the fun of it and many of our local and regional artistes promote the use of herb solely because it's the popular thing to do as well as it's a good way to draw young kids who will naturally go with anything that seems rebellious.
This leads us to the most dangerous problems concerning ganja use, which are created by hip-hop, reggae and soca artistes, especially the most popular ones that recklessly promote the use of ganja seemingly unaware or unconcerned over the effect they have on impressionable teenagers.
A clinical psychiatrist that has worked with young people who became addicted to marijuana told Island Events that many kids end up smoking marijuana simply because their favourite hip-hop, dancehall and soca artistes told them it was right to do so. He added that when a thirteen-year-old or sixteen-year-old starts using ganja and is unable to control the effects that child faces a complete shutdown, mentally and physically.
Even Rastafarians that smoke marijuana will tell you that they do not allow their own children to smoke until they are adults and can stand up to all the effects of the herb. Unfortunately not everyone that sports dreadlocks is a Rastafarian in the true sense of the word and there are people out there that will not think twice about selling a youth a five piece or even supplying him or her with product to sell in school.
Throughout the years there have been students at even the most prestigious of schools selling marijuana. Right now on the campus of the University of the West Indies there are several students and staff members that "push weed" a student at the institution said. And there is no social, ethnic or economic divide as for who's pulling peng as from the wealthy businessman's daughter to the pastor's son is smoking hard weed.
A walk through the Brian Lara Promenade proves that people have simply become nonchalant about ganja as one draw for breath can fill one's lungs with several varieties of ganja. The police seem to have adopted the attitude that they have too many more serious criminal issues to deal with to be running after people smoking a little ganja. There are even people selling weed on and around the promenade.
Our Psychiatrist friend pointed out that the use of marijuana has increased significantly across the board as people search out means other than alcohol to cope with stress. The danger in this, however, is that marijuana can become a platform towards addiction to other drugs.
Some people are addictive in nature and end up on an eternal search for that ever elusive ultimate high and end up hooked on more dangerous drugs. Also, there are some who blend in other addictives with the marijuana in order to get people hooked on more expensive and certainly more addictive and dangerous drugs.
As for those artistes that promote the use of marijuana, the psychiatrist advised that they need to realise the power they have over young people and accept that they have to take responsibility for what happens to kids when they lead them towards certain actions and behaviour.
While they themselves may be happily floating on cloud nine compliments some great grass, a kid may end up going insane because of where that same high may take him or her. Worse if that artiste has never even held a ten piece and is promoting ganja use, sing of what you know not what's the go, the psychiatrist said before lighting up his ten piece that contained a blend of Jamaican hydro and seedless Santa Cruz. We told you, everyone's lighting up these days.
