LEGALISATION OF DAGGA

Sir,

I would like to seize this opportunity to hail MP Hans Steffen for spelling out clearly what the legalisation of dagga can do for Swaziland. In fact, I was disappointed that no one spoke up in this regard at the recent Sibaya, since it affects the entire country, adversely at present.

Much money is spent on law-enforcement, court time and incarceration of offenders while many families face financial ruin and real criminals are reaping the profits.
I should explain my personal position on this. I am a productive and well-respected member of society. Unfortunately, I am also a criminal on account of my choice to use dagga both recreationally and medicinally for over 40 years now. Therefore I need to express myself anonymously. I believe the biggest hurdle to achieving legalisation is the very erroneous perception of dagga as a dangerous substance.

Yes, it has potential inherent dangers, just like many substances we use or abuse or activities we engage in, but most of those are legal, even if far more dangerous! I know of many other respectable, even influential people who use dagga recreationally. The law has never stopped anyone from the use of dagga. In other words, anyone who wants to smoke is already doing so, including some who should not, such as minors and those mentally vulnerable.
To overcome this problem a proper education of school-goers is required in this regard. When I say proper, I mean based on fact, not hysterics. This education should cover the entire field of recreational drugs and should be administered before children even start experimenting.

The ultimate point to understand here is that recreational use of dagga forms only a very small part of the potential uses of this plant, which has been in the service of humanity for thousands of years and was suddenly demonised less than a century ago. No one has ever died from its use and evidence is now emerging that it has the medicinal potential to save many lives and to create jobs and income for even more, including SRA.
 How can we hesitate when we already grow some of the best? A bit of courage now will pay for itself handsomely in the future. We could easily become world leaders in this newly emerging field!

Reluctant criminal.

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