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Friday, July 15, 2011
Guyanas President Bharrat Jagdeo maintains that the law on marijuana remains unchanged under his presidency and foresees no change in the status-quo, even as the Rastafarian community continues to claim that the substance is a fundamental right.
At the launch of the International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD) Jagdeo made it clear in the presence of a large gathering of Rastafarians that his government is committed fully to their wellbeing but the promise of legalizing marijuana cannot be assured.
Earlier in the ceremony president of the Guyana Rastafarian Council, Ras Leon Saul had lobbied for consideration to lift the prohibition on the substance, which the Rastafari community values as a sacrament.
Jagdeo expressed doubt that the society is ready to go in this direction but seemed more concerned about the double standards in the developed worlds policy towards the substance and their attitude towards the policies adopted by the developing world.
I am a little concerned when the countries that lecture us on this issue, they are busy legalizing marijuana on a ballot, Jagdeo said, making reference to California and Holland.
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