Christopher Tufton | Herb houses and the misapplication of public policy

Over recent years, Jamaica has seen a flowering of legal herb houses, each with expertly branded ganja products claiming to provide solutions to a variety of ailments, clinical or emotional; while also affording users options to assuage ‘the munchies’.

Before decriminalisation in Jamaica in 2015, ganja – also referred to as cannabis or marijuana, among other names – was readily available, but usage was tempered by public perception of the drug as taboo and the risk of imprisonment. Today, access has been formalised and the motivation and/or temptation, including for trial usage, is wrapped up in sophisticated packaging and enabled by a more relaxed social environment.

While there is value in and justification for decriminalisation – including ganja’s use as a sacrament for religious purposes as well as that prohibitionist law is not an effective deterrent to usage – we should be clear about what it is we are trying to achieve and remain mindful of protecting the more vulnerable among us, notably, our children and young adults.

The 2018 report of the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana tells us, for example, that the adolescent brain is in a stage of critical development and is not fully developed before the age of 24 years, which makes it susceptible to the effects of marijuana.

The commission’s report also references what it refers to as ‘a convincing body of literature that recent use affects several domains of cognition, such as memory, attention and learning’, and that these effects persist even after use stops.

Beyond that, ganja’s ability to ‘desensitise and calm’, the report said, has been “demonstrated to have demotivating effects, especially on young people, which is a cause for concern”. It means that of, necessity, we must tread carefully with ganja use, adhering to the existing policy and legislative provisions.

Yet, at this time in Jamaica, there appears to be some friction between policy and practice. Recent news reports, for example, would seem to suggest that at least some herb houses are more about recreational use and less about medicinal use; and with provisions for talking to a doctor remotely on an iPad, farcical. There are also questions about the types and strength of herb varieties being promoted and without due regard for the vulnerability of individuals.

PUBLIC HEALTH RISK

Personally, I cast no moral judgement on an individual’s decision, under the law, to smoke ganja, or drink alcohol, for that matter. However, from a public health perspective, I think it is important to be clear and transparent about what the rules of engagement are and follow them.

If herb houses are for recreational purposes, the policy should reflect that, and appropriate protection to safeguard the vulnerable be strictly enforced. If they are for medicinal purposes, then proper clinical guidelines should be applied; and right now, we do not think they are.

The other concern we have in public health is the growing trend of smoking anything and everything, including ganja, in public spaces, which threatens not only to undermine our current anti-smoking laws but also to impact the health and safety of the members of the public who are subjected to second-hand smoke.

There are too many public displays of ganja smoking – while driving or riding or at the workplace. We are concerned that this may also contribute to road accidents or to antisocial behaviour at the workplace, similar to the risks associated with the excessive consumption of alcohol.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness intends to hold discussions with the Cannabis Licensing Authority and other stakeholders to establish greater clarity on these issues, and based on the various concerns.

- Dr Christopher Tufton is the minister of health & wellness and member of parliament for West Central St Catherine. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com