The Editor, Sir:

On Wednesday, June 23, about 9:00 p.m. I happened to be watching a documentary titled 'Inside America's pot industry' being aired on CNBC. This was an amazing eye-opener. I now understand why the United States (US) is determined to suppress the growing of ganja in the Caribbean, and specifically Jamaica. Our ganja trade is threatening the economy of one of their largest states, and also robbing the State of California of significant income through taxes.

In the Northern California Triangle, a town called - by design, I imagine - 'Potter Valley', located in Mendocina County, there is a large and legal marijuana industry. The growing and selling of the herb is being hailed as the saviour of the county.

Growing marijuana has replaced the failed industries of that part of California. The region has thrived, as 60 per cent of the populace grow and sell various edible and smokeable items from the herb. This is all legal, under California laws. The State of California taxes the industry, earning $60 million annually from the business.

There exists in Oakland, California, a narco brand economy that has opened the Oaksterdam University, teaching people how to grow pot. And yet, the US Government has been sending aircraft to spray and kill ganja farms in the hills of Jamaica. They are not doing that in California. They have not attempted to shut down the university.

Impose sanctions

I recall that, some time in the late 1980s, two Jamaican doctors - highly qualified and well respected men - Manley West and A.B. Lockhart, developed a medication for glaucoma from marijuana, called Canasol, working out of the University of the West Indies. Canasol was proven to be highly effective in the treatment of glaucoma, but it has not been allowed to be marketed in the United States to this day.

There is something very wrong being done to us here in Jamaica by the United States of America. The guns that are killing our people are exported from the US and they have done little or nothing to stop the steady and deadly flow of lethal weapons into our country. Yet, they have threatened to impose sanctions on us if we do not stop marijuana from entering the US. The situation begs the question. Is this a case of the US protecting its own local industry? Countries are known to do that.

It is time for our Government to follow the example of a significant and sizeable section of the US and decriminalise the growing of ganja in Jamaica. If the US has a usage problem they should deal with that on their shores. One of their biggest states has shown that it can be highly profitable, and their own Government is benefiting from the business. Is that hypocrisy? I certainly think so.

With the current fallout of the bauxite industry, the St Elizabeth and St Ann areas could be given permission to develop an industry similar to that which exists in California. We are in serious times and this is a way out for these people. Yes, there will have to be regulations; but this is not beyond us to put that in place.

I know that many wise and prudent people read these letters to the editor and there needs to be a meeting of these minds to force a legislative decision on the issue. I urge the media houses to obtain a copy of the documentary for airing on our networks. There are many lessons to be learned from this. We have adopted many ideas from Uncle Sam. This could be one of immense benefit to our faltering economy. And perhaps this small island could give America a little competition in an area that is clearly profitable for their citizens and the State of California.

I am, etc.,

A.GUY MORRIS

www.timewillnevertell.com