Medical Marijuana – Yes or No
There’s been a global move to legalising Medical Marijuana with the US leading the effort, and South Africa might catch up, says Terence Pillay.
In February this year, Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was quoted as saying the South African government was going to look at the possibility of legalising medical marijuana.
The discussion was brought up in parliament after a special plea was made by IFP member of parliament Mario Oriani-Ambrosini who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last year.
He pleaded with government to make it legal here for medical reasons and went as far as saying not to do so would be a “crime against humanity”.
His plea apparently drew a standing ovation from the whole house. This was all part of a discussion around finding alternative treatments for cancer.
But the thing is: unlike what’s happening in the US now, Ambrosini was calling for Centers to be created where this treatment could be administered in a controlled environment.
Closer to home, a Durban man, Bobby Greenhash* is a huge proponent of the move to legalise the use of medical marijuana and is quite passionate about the issue.
While Bobby has quite a lot of support, the subject seems to have polarised people. Carol du Toit is the Director of SANCA and she feels strongly that there needs to be more research done before we make any kind decision on the matter.
While many states in the US, in particular California and Colorado, have already legalised medical marijuana, many states are resisting it – and some say with good reason!
The thing about the US is that it has a Federal Government, so while it’s still federally illegal, the states have the capacity to promulgate their own legislation, so while it might be legal in California, it’s not in Chicago.
Carol du Toit says marijuana is definitely a gateway drug to other more dangerous substances and we don’t know enough yet to move to legalise. Bobby disagrees.
Catch the full #GoodBadUgly show here:
What do you think? Should marijuana be legalised for medical use? YES or NO?
You can follow Terence Pillay on Twitter: @terencepillay1 or email him at: [email protected]
*not his real name