Jamaica: Ganja and crime (shocking new suggestion that pot may be related to crime in some way)

The Jamaica Gleaner ^ | November 27, 2005

[Stoat]

Ganja and crime
published: Sunday | November 27, 2005

The scientific debate in Jamaica about the dangers of marijuana use is often obfuscated by a subtle cultural bias based in part on a support of Rastafarians who claim that the herb is a sacramental part of their religious practice, but also by years of its use in folk medicine.

Now comes Dr. Winston De La Haye, director of the detoxification unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies and president of the Psychiatry Association of Jamaica, who believes that the use of ganja may well be a major contributing cause to the level of crime and violence in the society.

Dr. De La Haye points out that marijuana contains tetrahydro cannabinol which has been proven to exacerbate aggressive behaviour. If this is so, and given the wide use of ganja in Jamaica, the doctor's warning certainly deserves serious consideration and further objective assessment.

He contends that the drug can drive a person mad and, with understandable prudence, asks: Why take a chance?

We note that Professor Fred Hickling, another respected expert, while not disagreeing with Dr. De La Haye's bottom line warning about the dangers of using the drug, defuses the argument by listing a number of other social causes of violence such as poverty and despair, a position that can readily be conceded without in any way detracting from what might be a significant breakthrough in lessening the degree of violence in Jamaica.

Other causes of violence there may well be, but if smoking ganja is like throwing gasolene on smouldering coals, the unequivocal condemnation of its use may be worth trying, backed up with a strong public education campaign to bring home to the populace, especially the youngsters, that by smoking ganja, they may be playing with fire in more ways than one.

This suggestion runs counter to the present popular attitude that the use of ganja should be decriminalised, supported by the recommendations of the National Commission on Ganja which was set up in November 2000.

But in light of Dr. De La Haye's pronouncement, a renewed debate about marijuana use would seem to be in order, one that is non-emotional and focused, not on the general question of whether marijuana is good or bad, but whether it is indeed a contributory cause to violent behaviour.

Certainly there has developed in Jamaica an almost knee-jerk violent reaction to 'dissing' or other relatively minor provocations which needs some explanation. Dr. De La Haye has provided one such possible reason and we think his warning should be heeded.

[Stoat]

Readers may also be interested in this related thread from a couple of days ago:

A Student who cannot spell 'cat'!

and

1,476 MURDERS in Jamaica - LAST YEAR'S DEATH FIGURE SURPASSED

Jamaica A student who cannot spell 'cat'!(H.S. teacher exposes breathtaking extent of edu. crisis)

[fizziwig]

"Dr. De La Haye points out that marijuana contains tetrahydro cannabinol which has been proven to exacerbate aggressive behaviour"

Where is this proof? I have never known anyone to get aggressive while high on pot....alchohol yes, and other drugs, but not pot.

I think the the jamaican crime problem is rooted in other reasons....

And no I don't smoke dope, in fact I don't think there is any redeeming value to it in terms of recreational use....apparently it does relieve pressure in the eyes to aid with glaucoma. Good...otherwise pot is way overblown...pun intended!

[USNBandit]

Oh Geez! Now you've gone and done it!

Set General Quarters about the ship. Potheads imminent. This is not a drill. :)

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>(shocking new suggestion that pot may be related to crime in some way)<<<

What a hugh and series revelation!

[ncountylee]

Nagin was just there.

[Stoat]

Oh Geez! Now you've gone and done it!

Set General Quarters about the ship. Potheads imminent. This is not a drill. :)

ROTFLMAO!!  This will attract them like gnats to flypaper  LOL

<<<<  setting up air-fresheners around the room   :-)

 

Oh Geez! Now you've gone and done it!

Set General Quarters about the ship. Potheads imminent. This is not a drill. :)

[bigsigh]

pot is clearly related to crime in the US. The outlawing of pot and other drugs has provided an underground economy in which gangs have grown and become wealthy. Now that's a crime.

[Stoat]

>>>(shocking new suggestion that pot may be related to crime in some way)<<<

What a hugh and series revelation!

"Well, surprise, surprise, surprise!"

 

Whoda thunk it?

 

hehehe!  Do they know that the rest of the world is just laughing at them, or are they too stoned to notice?

[Stoat]

Nagin was just there.

Yes, another FReeper told me about that in the linked thread.  Apparently he preferred the sunny beaches of RastaLand over Thanksgiving instead of helping displaced Nawlins residents.  I have no doubt that he will be reelected in a landslide.  "sigh"

[muawiyah]

Just because you've never known anyone to "get violent" under those circumstances, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

There's also the effect MJ has on your ability to make good judgments, and if you were using while you were evaluating whether or not your companions were getting violent, that might be the problem in your chain of observations.

I'd suggest you quit your toking, but I don't want to. MJ has some negative impacts and I really do want you to get as many of them as possible.

[libertyman]

I hafta agree w/ you...this is a bunch of anti-marijuana BS. I know, because I DO smoke marijuana, & I'm not ashamed to say so...& whenever I inhale, getting violent is the LAST thing I am concerned about. I've been a pothead for 28 years (I'm 43), & not once have I ever been involved in a violent situation when I have a good marijuana buzz, & neither have any of my friends that I'm aware of.

Alcohol, YES; marijuana, NO (thank God I don't drink!)

[fizziwig]

"I'd suggest you quit your toking, but I don't want to. MJ has some negative impacts and I really do want you to get as many of them as possible."

Your'e funny! Go back and read my full post, all of it. Then respond, if you wish, fully armed wiht the knowledge of my full post.

[chronic_loser]

I haven't smoked pot in over 25 years, and don't plan to start up again. However, anyone positing a link between violence and Marijuana is stupid. A link between pot and being a fuzzy headed simpleton, yeah. Pot and laziness, sure. Pot and memory loss, absolutely. But not violence. Just ain't so.

[muawiyah]

Take a trip to Jamaica and tell the doctor that his eyes are telling him lies.

[muawiyah]

I don't believe you.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Unbelievable. Some "leaders" have no shame.

[injin]

Violence and drug use correlations in Jahmaica ?
Couldn't have anything to do with a population that for the most part are barely a step away from African bush tribalism ,
could it?
Please tell me if the Jamaicans of anglo-British extraction
exhibit these same tendencies?

[Sir Gawain]

director of the detoxification unit

I'm shocked that he reached this conclusion. Tainted study.

[Stoat]

 

[chronic_loser]

The fact that he lives in jamaica doesn't give him the right to post unsubstantiated crap about something in Jamaica. If I make some idiotic statemtent about attending Duke making men sterile, the fact that I live and work less than a mile from campus doesn't add validity to that nonsense.

A good case can be made for the rising crime rate in Jamaica being tied to the fact that it has become a "jumping off point" for cocaine transport to the USA. If you want to post a link between coke and crime, I am on board. Simply stating "there is a link between marijuana and crime" is not what we call "documented." Get the difference?