Division among stakeholders as it relates to government introducing a legal age for marijuana use. Two experts support the move while one activist says it's a step backwards.
00:00On Monday, Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa indicated government's intention to enact legislation to implement a 25-year-old threshold for marijuana use.
00:11Secretary of the Psychiatry Association and the psychiatrist himself, Dr. Varma D'Yalsingh, says the move should be welcomed.
00:19Marijuana could affect the IQ, have something called immotivational syndrome, where these kids don't even want to study, they just want to stay home and use their marijuana.
00:30But drugs or substances, this former independent senator says, ought not be the first port of call for young people.
00:38The use of marijuana could trigger this. So it could trigger psychosis if you have relatives like in that route.
00:45But remember, the whole idea of the brain being still developing.
00:48We should not be using psychoactive substances to let people learn to calm themselves, to let people just go on this different level.
00:57We have to teach people the natural things, sports, exercise, yoga. Those are the natural things, stress release by talking.
01:06Those are things we have to teach the youth instead of reaching out for a substance.
01:11Though the human brain, he says, continues to develop until about 26 years old, some may think this threshold is too high.
01:20So the whole culture needs to shift. And this is just the beginning of that cultural shift.
01:26And people who criticize it, the United States has the age limit of 21. Let's go to 21.
01:32For former chair of the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana, Professor Rosemary Antwine says,
01:37It's the right way to go, though it's controversial as some users like those of the Rastafarian faith believe use by young children is not harmful.
01:48There are some substances that young people and children should not take.
01:52So we insisted that we would put a threshold for young people and children and we set it at 21.
02:00Now, although we set it at 21, there is scientific evidence that people's brains don't develop until the age of 24, 25.
02:13So I think that might, it could work.
02:16But as I said, it is controversial.
02:20We took a medium point since 21 is an adult.
02:23She says it will be difficult to implement and enforce, but is also interested in the overall development of the industry.
02:31We've been at somewhat of a limbo.
02:33I myself, in my other capacity as principal, we've been asking for some time writing to the AG, the then AGs, you know, asking for a license, a research license to research cannabis and medical benefits.
02:47So we would like to see the industry and the other things that have been put on hold in relation to cannabis to be, you know, worked on.
02:57And also, I am part of a group still.
03:00We are very concerned that when we do develop the industry, that the little people, the farmers, those who've been involved for many years are not left behind.
03:11And it wouldn't just be foreign companies coming in to take over the sector.
03:16Activist Nazma Muller says this move is a step backward.
03:22Based on what evidence?
03:23Nowhere in the world.
03:24I want to know where in the world is 25 years of age.
03:28That's the first thing.
03:30And what is the message that cannabis is more harmful than alcohol?
03:35It is proposed the age for legal alcohol consumption be moved from 18 to 21.
03:41I agree with raising the age limit for alcohol because alcohol has been proven year after year, decade after decade to be harmful.
03:50It causes cancer.
03:52There is no nutritional benefiting for alcohol.
03:56I am with her only 21 years of age.
03:59In fact, I would go further.
04:00I would say if you are placing an age limit on marijuana, it should be the same as alcohol because alcohol is far more harmful to humans.
04:10When one looks at the UNC manifesto, she says it appears the minor things are getting the focus and the major promises left behind, like the proclamation of the Cannabis Control Authority Act.
04:23People are looking forward to jobs, to dispensaries, or to be able to buy organic herbs.
04:33I mean, there were so many expectations.
04:35So now to say that you can only use cannabis when you're 25 years old.
04:42First of all, how are you going to enforce that?
04:44Okay, so I understand any dispensaries maybe is going to be 25 years and over.
04:49But she's putting the cart in front of the horse because you haven't put in place a legal supply.
04:58And the million-dollar question.
05:00Where is tobacco in all of this?
05:01Where is cigarettes in all of this?
05:03Which are far more harmful than cannabis?
05:05Has no benefit.
05:07Mullah says the messaging is mixed and more information regarding the billion-dollar industry is outstanding.
05:13Or if you should worry, Ruben Rhein, TV6 News.
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