Ahead of this Sunday’s launch of National Hemp Awareness Week, the Guyana Hemp Association is calling on Government to legalise the plant’s cultivation and use, considering its many noted economic benefits. Hemp, which is called industrial hemp, remains banned under its narcotic classification, along with other drugs such as cocaine and hemp’s sister plant, marijuana.
Guyana Hemp Association Co-Chairman, Michael Kirton
Guyana Hemp Association Co-Chairman Michael Kirton, however, highlighted industrial hemp’s economic, social, environmental and health benefits, adding that it would create employment, new industries, build up the local economy and reduce poverty.
AFC MP, Michael Carrington
In an interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, he noted that the Hemp Association has hosted wide consultations which included Indigenous communities, some of which Kirton claimed are fully on board to cultivate the plant.
Hempcrete is used for construction purposes
“The people at Pakuri (St Cuthbert’s Mission) are very much supportive of the hemp industry and they have been pushing for legalisation. They have their land and the people are very up to date with hemp but we have [encountered] problems with registering the associations. People have been submitting their applications as directed by the co-op department and in some cases, have paid the fees but are now being told that it’s illegal so they can’t register,” Kirton pointed out.
In this light, the Co-Chairman added that the Association has not received positive feedback from the coalition Administration on possible legalisation even as there were repeated consultations with Alliance For Change Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Carrington. The MP had moved a motion to amend the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill which sought to remove jail sentences for the possession of small quantities of marijuana.
“We’ve got tremendous support from all different stakeholders – farmers, the business community and even some people in Government who are fully supportive of the idea so we are waiting on President Granger to put his signature to remove the barriers so we could produce hemp,” the Association’s Co-Chairman urged.
As the Association continues to anticipate hemp’s legalisation, the public will be able to learn more about the positives of the drug at this Sunday’s launch of Hemp Awareness Week which falls under the theme “Greening Tomorrow’s World”.
The October 8 event will be held at the United Republican Party’s compound in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara. Kirton stressed that the venue does not reflect a partisan stance of the Association.
“We are not a member of any political party, we have support from everybody – the PPP [People’s Progressive Party], the PNC [People’s National Congress], everybody, it’s a national issue. After Sunday we will have outreaches along Regions Four; Five; 10; and in Lethem, Region Nine.
Hemp is used in food, cosmetics, textiles, paper, plastics, in concrete (hempcrete) and in the production of bio-fuel but when smoked, it can induce severe headaches. The week of activities will run up to Saturday, October 14.
It is believed that the amendments to the Narcotics Bill will help to reduce the prison population; reduce the time wasted in court; save the State (resources) for each person sentenced for the possession of a small quantity of cannabis; prevent persons from being corrupted by others in jail; and prevent broken homes. The main PPP/Civic has expressed its support for the decriminalisation of marijuana, but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had cautioned that the Party did not have enough research on the topic to make a definitive pronouncement.
Former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, in association with Attorney Mark Waldron, had compiled the draft bill. It stipulates that persons who are found in possession of the drug for personal use would be required to pay a fine of $10,000 or perform community service for a period of time. President Granger made it clear that such reforms were not a current concern of the Government; and, on a more personal note, declared that he would not subscribe to the usage of marijuana.
