An attendee of the International Decade for People of African Descent Summit, who recently visited Guyana, is calling on the Government of Guyana to relax the prosecution for marijuana possession.
King Fran-ky stressed that the marijuana plant, apart from its religious significance, is for the betterment of mankind because it has been proven to help cure many ailments. He said this citing evidence published in scientific journals.
Fran-ky also noted that the Rastafarian community has been using this herb for some time now and they are aware of the goodness of the herb. He further
King Fran-ky
disclosed that there are currently many international events involving the legalising of marijuana and, as such, Government needs to “decriminalise the herb”.
Apart from the actual herb, the hemp (extracts from the plant) and the other parts of the plant can replace other things within the society, particularly for industrial usage.
He highlighted that the United Nations (UN) had declared this as the International Decade for People of African Descent, which was established to see that the African community is taken care of in three areas; namely recognition, justice and development.
“The Rastafarian community is a part of the African community and we are being denied certain basic human rights in this the 21st century, and this is something we must push for regardless of if it wasn’t happening in the international community.”
He emphasised that it is the mandate of the UN which gives them the right and privilege to champion the cause of marijuana legalisation in Guyana.
For marijuana possession, the Act states the penalty on summary conviction is a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars, together with imprisonment of not less than three years nor more than five years; or on conviction on indictment, a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars or three times the market value of the narcotic, whichever is greater, together with imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 10 years.
The Act stipulates that possession of more than 15 grams or just over half an ounce would be considered possession for trafficking, for which the penalty is on summary conviction, a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars or three times the market value of the narcotic, whichever is greater, together with imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than five years; or on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not less than seventy-five thousand dollars or three times the market value of the narcotic, whichever is the greater, together with imprisonment for life.
The Rastafarian community in Guyana has reiterated its call for the legalisation of marijuana in Guyana, contending that the herb is used as a sacrament in their religious rites. Over the years, Rastafarians have been denied their rights of engaging in their religious practices freely. “There should be a change of laws to cater for the freedom of worship for the Rastafarian community,” Fran-ky posited.
