THE words of Dr Tameka Johnson-Dames deserve to be listened to.
Dr Johnson-Dames is on the front lines of dealing with patients suffering from mental illnesses.
She has worked at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre for seven years, and her comments are timely, with the government still said to be considering legislation over the issue of marijuana.
Dr Johnson-Dames has conducted research into a possible association between cannabis use and psychosis in patients admitted to the facility – and believes there is a link.
She said that the use of cannabis “was associated with the conversion of a psychosis to a chronic psychotic illness”.
In other words, the use of the drug seems to have the capacity to exacerbate psychosis from which a patient already suffers.
The question then becomes, how do we deal with that?
Our country has a shortage of resources for dealing with mental health and substance abuse – with only one public in-patient substance abuse programme in the country as it stands.
Dr Johnson-Dames says the time to deal with that is now, “not waiting until the floodgates are open”.
As yet, we have yet to see any of that legislation, despite Attorney General Ryan Pinder saying last month that it had been finalised – after an extraordinarily lengthy process.
We do not know how much those floodgates will be opened. We do not know what consideration has been given into mental health issues such as the one highlighted by Dr Johnson-Dames. We do know that there are not enough resources now – and adding to the strain being felt by those resources will help no one.
If the government goes ahead with such legislation, the very least that should be done is making it subject to what they call a sin tax – a financial cost on the production and supply of whatever product is ultimately legally allowed, with the funds going towards bolstering the services available to help.
We have witnessed too many occasions when such drugs have had a negative effect on people’s lives – and the damage that can be done by marijuana to mental health. Our evidence has been up close – but anecdotal. Dr Johnson-Dames has been more methodical in her assessment.
There is the potential for great harm to a great many people if such legislation is passed – not all, but a significant amount.
We must proceed with great care, and great wisdom – but if the ultimate decision is made to proceed with such laws, then we must build into them a way of recouping the cost of the services that will be needed that are adversely affected.
So yes, we should listen to Dr Johnson-Dames. And we should consider that question – how do we deal with such consequences?
RF Business Outlook
Yesterday saw Baha Mar hosting the RF Business Outlook – and The Tribune was pleased to play its part in supporting the event.
One of our reporters, Youri Kemp, served as a moderator for the event and you will see in our pages today coverage from the day itself.
It served as an opportunity for many businesspeople to get to know each other better, and to catch up and discuss matters of interest.
But the speakers at the event also gave an important look forward to the future – on issues such as crypto currencies, the future of financing and the economy, and the future of The Bahamas.
Those two words, “the future”, played a key part, and it is precisely such events as these, bringing together the best and brightest of The Bahamas with leading speakers from around the world, that can lead us to our own future.
We salute RF Bank & Trust for its vision.
Comments
bahamianson 1 year, 1 month ago
Muddosick, are we.going down this road , again? Smole weed, have fun ! Do you not realize that all we know is gone? Girls wiil be riding and bumping in the roads in May, but you must have respect for them every other month. Prostitution is on its way to be legal. The place has gone to the pussycats. Respect women, though.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 1 month ago
Prostitution is on it's way to being legal as residents of Amsterdam's Red District are asking sex tourists to *please stay away youre ruining our neighbourhood*
The problem with all of our planning is nobody wants to examine the risks. Its always good news all the way on how much money we will make. Marijuana is a drug. Drugs affect different biological systems differently, just because you smoke it all the time does not mean that your neighbour's 2 teenage sons... or their mother for that matter will be fine. They may turn into the neighbourhood nuisances breaking into your car every night searching for 2 dollars to get the next hit.
Someone told me just this week about the issue in the states, the trend now is for marijuana to be laced with something so you dont know what you smoking and some people have bad outcomes
Anyway, they will do what they want to foobar the country as much as possible. Just dont come like the gambling people 5 years later with their weak addiction treatment support
mandela 1 year, 1 month ago
How many deaths has alcohol caused and still causes to this day, and it's legal?
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 1 month ago
Youre right, its another abused mind altering drug.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 1 month ago
There's a spot on a local show featuring alcohol, the local representative has mentioned several times the regional brand manager commenting to the local team that The Bahamas is their best customer! I didnt get the impression that they meant by a thin margin. I find it such a weird thing to be proud of. But ok, we drinking squaddie (those 2 policemen were sadly unrecognized alcoholics like many bahamian young men btw)
carltonr61 1 year, 1 month ago
Based on my Certifications specific to cannabis, Canada, CAMH Cannabis Use in Primary Care. Evidence show that persons use of Cannabis and outcomes is directly related to the percentage of THC/CBD. if the ratio of THC is above 12/14% then psychosis is possible relative to low psychosis in users 1960 - 1980 - 1990. Also, personalities with high neurotransmitter Amandamide and 2AG or natural levels of just high happiness may fare worst with the additional extra release of Dopamine.
JackArawak 1 year, 1 month ago
Everyone is already smoking weed; legalizing it will only capture some tax dollars for the government. Legal states and countries have shown that legalization doesn't cause a spike in youth or other persons usage. It only increases ease of access and no fear of arrest. Let's do some boutique farming Brave.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 1 month ago
The people you know are all smoking weed. Some of the people you dont know are now being seen by Dr Tameka Johnson Dames, that's the point the article makes. Is everybody buying numbers addicted? The person I spoke to is also in the medical field seeing people and marijuana gone wrong.
This line of thinking has undertones of the Toby Smith case, if I making money, who cares what damage it might do to someone else. Actually as I think about it, that's the Bahamian way, we been doing that for centuries. George Smith said just a few shorts days ago, "why does it matter how you made your money"
JackArawak 1 year, 1 month ago
right, the folks being seen by the Dr. now are already smoking, while it's still illeagal. Legalization has yet to cause a single Bahamian to decide smoking is right for them. I'm am not saying it's a benign substance, I'm saying it should be legal. And please don't anyone fall into the trap of thinking it will rain dollars and we will pay off the national debt. Just educate yourself as to the history of the whole subject. Why was it criminalized in the first place? What has happened in the states and countries where it is now legal.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 1 month ago
In California legalization has also seen raids on drug farms, not in any numbers, but enough that people are now secreting the location of their farms. And dont be fooled illegal plantations will not go away here as people will not be able to afford the ridiculous licensing fees
This is an account of an incident at an illegal UK farm from vice.com, in the Bahamas when you consider criminals raid farms for lettuce... well....
The killing of a 23-year-old would-be cannabis burglar by three drug gang members is a continuing sign of the pernicious effects of UK weed laws, experts told VICE World News.
The beating to death of Tomasz Waga in Cardiff by three members of a crime gang from Albania, is the latest deadly example of ongoing cannabis farm wars in the UK exposed by VICE World News in 2021. The case also reveals the wholesale expansion into Wales of Albanian gangs who have already become major players in the illegal cannabis growing industry – alongside the cocaine trade – in England.
carltonr61 1 year, 1 month ago
The wold weed will always be cheaper than taxed weed. All that will matter fir users is paying government for a permit to use and not get locked up. Legalization should mean openness to educate check for use at hospitals registration and give out warnings to those over sixty who smoked cannabis at 4% back then having to face 18 to 50% and psychosis episodes that could result.
carltonr61 1 year, 1 month ago
The problem we face with marijuana use among first time users in Primary and secondary school is lack of intervention. Without the messaging - because cannibis is not smoked in The Bahamas - until it is legalized there is no intervention doctrine. Why is it that of the thousands of adolescents who take a one-time try with peers company some become entrenched in the behavior. Is it that the peers are already entrenched or is there a network of young users and sellers in the school system or neighborhood environment. Urine tests at school could get us somewhere, only vape THC does not show up during drug tests as it is synthetic and far more THC potent that phyto/plant cannabis or endo or brain made cannabinoid.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID