Consider medical use of marijuana

 THE debate on whether marijuana should be legalised or not in Papua New Guinea has long created much controversy.

Because of the potential threats it poses and the projected social harm, most have been and are against the idea.

Last week, Chimbu Governor Noah Kool asked parliament to review the country’s illegal drug laws and impose harsh penalties on offenders as both consumption and trafficking of marijuana were becoming increasingly prevalent.

While I agree with Governor Kool’s proposition, I also think legalising marijuana for cultivation and export purposes would not be as bad an idea.

This is due to the fact that several countries, including the United States of America, have recently legalised the drug for medical and industrial reasons thus not only paving the way for the  creation of new legal markets but also making legal marijuana economically viable.

PNG can tap into these newly established lucrative markets when all necessary laws covering every aspect and stage right from cultivation to packaging and export are in place to protect everyone involved.

So we farm, pack and export marijuana but its consumption and illegal possession and trafficking remain forbidden with imposition of severe penalties on offenders.

Osbourne Terry

Vanimo, WSP