The Socioeconomic Benefits Associated with Decriminalisation of Marijuana

Forty-four years ago, Peter Tosh released the song “Legalize It.” Today, both at home and abroad our law makers, lobbyist and community leaders are coming together and having serious discussion on decriminalizing or legalizing a plant that was once demonized and criminalized. Various sects of society have been clamoring for the decriminalisation of marijuana in Trinidad and Tobago. Decriminalisation refers to a reduction of legal penalties. This can be done either by changing them to civil penalties, such as fines, or by diverting drug use offenders away from a criminal conviction and into education or treatment options (Ritter, n.d). Decriminalisation should be high on the agenda of lawmakers as marijuana has the effect of reducing the overload of the Criminal Justice System, decreasing the agencies resources, transforming the floundering economy as well as alleviating the effects of various diseases.

Decriminalisation will have the effect of reducing our congested, overloaded criminal justice system in Trinidad and Tobago. The burden placed on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Prisons Service and the court would be lessened if decriminalisation is considered (Julien, 2019). It is no secret that the justice system is slow to dispense justice. Furthermore, it has been described as being on the edge of a precipice and in a crisis (Hassanali, 2016). As such, the decriminalisation of marijuana can be one of the keys in snatching the justice system from the abyss of crisis. It will undoubtedly reduce the number of drug related cases that come before the courts, which will in turn save the court valuable time to deal with much more serious crimes. This will lift the blanket of congestion that continues to stifle our criminal justice system.

The state can potentially save billions of dollars by decriminalising marijuana. A significant percentage of the county’s resources is allocated to prosecuting, sentencing and incarcerating marijuana users. In 2017, two thousand (2000) persons have been arrested for possession of this supposedly harmful plant. If decriminalised, immediately the state would save the cost of prosecuting the almost 2,000 people arrested for ganja possession (Waithe,2018). According to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, between $15,000 and $20,000 a month is spent to accommodate, clothe, secure and feed each prisoner (Waithe, 2018). Those prosecuted for cannabis possession, would be released and pardoned, and those serving time could have their cases reviewed. The citizens’ tax paying dollars, which would have been spent in prosecuting and accommodating prisoners can instead be funneled into our education or health system. The decriminalization of marijuana will therefore, result in a decrease in expenditure by the state.

The appeal for economic diversification in Trinidad has been deafening and has largely been ignored. What can we turn to when the oil and gas reserves diminish? It is critical that we as a nation look towards other avenues for not only generating, but sustaining economic growth. Indeed, becoming a player in the nascent medical marijuana industry can be the answer. This certainly can stimulate economic growth, which will ultimately benefit our society. The possibilities are endless as we can explore the opportunities of this industry. Jobs can be created which will reduce the unemployment rate within Trinidad. Other products such as Cannabidiol (CBD) oil can be produced, as there is huge market for it in the US. According to data compiled by Transparency Market Research, the global CBD oil market is projected to grow from USD 950 Million in 2017 to USD 2.5 billion by 2026 (Financial Buzz, 2018). Undeniably, proper regulations, research and consultation has to be done to bring this to fruition.

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Evidently, the prohibition on marijuana is preventing the region from taking advantage of the economic opportunities in the cannabis industry (Caricom, 2018). In March 2018, police in Grande Riviere discovered seven fields containing seventeen thousand (17,000) fully mature marijuana trees with a street value of $17 million. The crop was burned in an eradication exercise (Surtees, 2018). Headlines such as these have become quite common within Trinidad. Instead of harvesting the economic benefits that abound from this natural plant we burn millions of dollars. These plants could have been processed, packaged and supplied to both domestic and international markets. Of course, legal red tape and regulations have to be taken into consideration to allow for this to become a reality; but if done correctly Trinidad and Tobago stand to gain in years to come. In 2018, the legal cannabis market in the US experienced 31 per cent growth surge, reaching US$8.5 billion (Waithe, 2018). Nations like the US have taken advantage of this multi-billion-dollar global industry and have reaped the benefits. Why do we as a nation, continue to straggle behind on the ladders of progression, allowing America and other countries to profit from a product it encouraged the world to prohibit since the 1930s?

The medical benefits of this marijuana cannot be underestimated. Cannabis sativa preparations have been used in medicine for ages. The plant has over seven hundred (700) compounds of which more than one hundred (100) are cannabinoids. The main cannabinoids of interest medicinally are the psychoactive compound, delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) which is non -psychoactive. These cannabinoids act on the endocannabinoid system which plays an important role in the body’s function (Robertson, 2018). Numerous diseases, such as anorexia, emesis, pain, inflammation, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease), epilepsy, glaucoma, osteoporosis, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, obesity, and metabolic syndrome-related disorders are being treated or have the potential to be treated by cannabinoid related compounds (Kogan & Mechoulam, 2007). Several persons in the public national consultations shared their personal experiences on the positive impacts of marijuana on pain, asthma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, glaucoma and cerebral palsy. Many persons gave accounts that cannabis/ marijuana helped them to heal when traditional drugs did not work (Caricom, 2018). Caribbean nations such as Antigua and Bermuda and Jamaica have taken a progressive stance on marijuana by implementing or planning progressive cannabis reform in recent years and many others are in discussion to bring about the same change. It will certainly be a ludicrous to let this opportunity slip through our fingertips. The overwhelming evidence is substantial enough to determine that there is considerable value in cannabis as an important plant for medicinal purposes, therefore decriminalising marijuana can serve to help thousands of persons.

Certainly, one can see the merit in the argument that decriminalisation will serve to increase marijuana use, especially amongst our youths of tomorrow. This premise is not new neither is it factual. There is no evidence that indicates that decriminalisation of marijuana affects either the choice or frequency of use of drugs (Thies & Register, 1993). MacCoun and Reuter (1997, 2001) discuss the evidence on marijuana decriminalisation in Australia, United States and the Netherlands. They conclude there is no indication that decriminalization intensifies the use of marijuana. In fact, citizens who live under decriminalisation laws consume marijuana at rates less than or comparable to those who live in regions where the possession of marijuana remains a criminal offence (Single et al., 2000). Since the advent of the decriminalisation of marijuana in Jamaica, data revealed that there has not been any discernible increase in use (Caricom, 2018).

Conclusively, measures should be taken to comprehensively review marijuana's current status with a view to reclassification. The decriminalisation of marijuana should be high on the agenda for the government of the country due to the numerous benefits to the society. The socio-economic benefits that abound far outweigh the miniscule dangers that have been put forward. Our nation should comprehensively look towards marijuana decriminalisation as it can save our country’s resources, boost our economy, bring about health benefits, and reduce that backlog the exist within our criminal justice system.

References

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2. Caricom. (2018). Report of the Caricom regional commission on marijuana 2018. Retrieved from https://caricom.org/documents/16433-marijuana_report_final_3_aug_18-doc.pdf
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