Marijuana addicts need rehablitation not jail time -says Health Minister

The Health Minister said smoking remains dangerous to a person's health and his Ministry will continue its efforts to encourage people to turn away from smoking.

Marijuana addicts need rehablitation not jail time -says Health Minister

The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony believes that persons who are addicted to marijuana should be placed in rehabilitation programmes instead of jail cells.

The Government has been considering the calls for the decriminalization of marijuana possession in small amounts.

While there have been several calls for that to be done, many persons believe it could lead to widespread use and more addictions.

“In terms of marijuana, I think you have to look at that in legal terms. So, part of it in terms of allowing it, small quantities of it has to do with the legal aspect people who have or who have been using marijuana, they have an addiction and shouldn’t be in the lockups for small quantities. They should be on a programme to help them with rehabilitation. I think that should be the focus”, the Health Minister said.

Minister Anthony further explained that the benefits of rehabilitation will be greater than any benefit that could be derived from jail time.

“Going into prison, for small quantities might lead then to do other things to get into more deviant behaviour rather than if you put them into a program where they can go through rehab”

The Health Minister said smoking remains dangerous to a person’s health and his Ministry will continue its efforts to encourage people to turn away from smoking.

 “I think the two things are different. In terms of cigarette smoking, they have been looks studies being done from the 60’s coming all the way to the present times that show a lot of the dangers of cigarette smoking which include cancer, the cardiovascular effects of smoking, chronic lung disease a whole host of things. So we know the dangers of this, that’s why we have to work to reduce this”

Guyana joined the rest of the world yesterday in observing “No Tobacco Day”. There are several laws in Guyana to discourage smoking in public places but very few are enforced.

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