Dear Editor,

I wish to point out some facts to letter writer Joseph Adams (January 25, “Don’t arrest people for using ganja”) and to Jamaicans who think ganja is not harmful. Here are some of the less recognised harmful effects of the abuse of ganja: the proliferation of weapons. Some people carry weapons because of paranoia. They believe people are out “to get” them. The paranoia can come about from smoking too much ganja.

Witness how much of our music carries the theme “dem ah fight ‘gainst me” lyrics.

Fellow Jamaicans, let’s not kid the troops, our country would be way ahead economically, without the widespread use of ganja. I believe the weed can create a false sense that “every little thing is going to be all right” when all the evidence points to the contrary. Another thing I have noticed is that some of the most vocal proponents of the use of ganja are the worst examples of why we should not be telling our young people to believe that ganja is a wisdom weed “cause it grew on Solomon’s grave”. I bet poison ivy also grew nearby.

Clinton Reynolds

Toronto, Canada