Legalization of marijuana: the doctor urges caution, but activists are not reassured

General News on Friday, August 2nd, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-08-02

While the campaign for the legalization of marijuana is gaining momentum, a doctor has recommended caution.

According to Dr. Kwadwo Obeng, acting director of the Ankaful Mental Hospital, marijuana users are at risk of becoming addicted.

Speaking at the Super Morning Show on Thursday, he explained that, to identify addicts, health professionals typically look at a number of things, including substance tolerance, withdrawal syndrome, and neglect. previous alternatives.

Dr. Obeng said that drug addicts doubled their previous use of this substance to get high.

"So in the beginning, if you only drink a glbad or a puff to smash you, an addict will put one or two rollers to get the same effect. It means that your body adapts to the substance, "he said.

When addicts do not use marijuana, withdrawal symptoms develop and their body responds physically.

Difficulty speaking, becoming irritable, strong beating heart and excessive sweating are additional symptoms of addicts trying to quit the drug experience.

Kwabena Afriyie, who claims to have been addicted to drugs, also spoke.

Kwabena Afriyie told Daniel Dadzie, host of the show, weed had become a companion, taking it before meals, in the middle of the night, good or bad mood.

"It had become like an appetizer. If I do not smoke it, I could not eat. So, I've been looking for it all the time, "he explained.

Kwabena Afriyie, who considers herself a former drug addict, revealed that he had remained on the grbad for more than twelve years after initiating him at the age of 22.

He explained that he must "deduce from his life" because he not only did not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, but he also had to "mature" for his children, especially his daughter.

However, for the president of the Hemp Association of Ghana, the story of Kwabena Afriya does not make sense.

Nana Agyemang explained that drug addicts needed medical attention to wean themselves off drugs. Kwabena's account of breaking the dependency because of Jesus Christ seems unique.

"Drug addicts do not do that. They need medical care, education and the food they have taken to wean them off gradually, "he said.

Nana Agyemang said this to dispel the idea that marijuana use leads to addiction.

Nana enjoyed the support of an auditor who said that he was not yet addicted, despite many years of marijuana use.

"What addiction does he claim (Kwabena) to claim, three years in a row and no addiction," wrote Joe T.

Context

The advocate for the legalization of marijuana, increasingly subtle, is gradually moving from advocates to campaigners campaigning publicly for the legalization and / or decriminalization of the weed.

In March 2019, the Rastafarian Council of Ghana was set up to decriminalize marijuana, but the movement was blocked by a court order from the police.

"The reason for the march was to raise public awareness that cannabis is a natural plant and that the incarceration of its users is a violation of human rights."

"The plant has many uses both industrial and medicinal. There is a backlog of users in our already congested prisons because they are not criminals, "said Dennis Afram, a leading member of the group in an interview.

The Ghanaian Dancehall artist, Samini, also released a song about the benefits that the grbad has for health and the economy, but also for the farmers who would make money by selling grbad.

Actor John Dumelo and the late former UN secretary, Kofi Anna, also stressed in their discussions the benefits of decriminalizing grbad for the country.

Advantages

Nana Agyemang objected to what he described as only hiding the negative side of the drug without its well-documented benefits.

He argued that it was time to talk about the benefits of the drug on health, the environment and the economy. The state will benefit a lot, he said.

Ukraine has planted hemp to eliminate atmospheric radiation and reduce soil toxicity resulting from the destruction of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant a few years ago.

Nana Agyemang believes that Ghana can save land destroyed on mining sites by planting hemp. He also encouraged the use of hemp concrete in buildings to absorb gases such as carbon dioxide from the environment.

Dr. Obeng has called for caution as the campaign to legalize marijuana is gaining momentum.