The prospect of the new legalisation of dagga for medicinal purposes being implemented in April of this year, has prompted Enrico Bhana from Women Against Women Abuse (WAWA), who deals with victims of drug abuse every day, to say, “We are against it by all means”.
Bhana said further, “This sends out the wrong message to our children. It’s getting worse and worse for our kids and as far as we are concerned, we’re fighting a losing battle. With all the anti-drug campaigns in our country, we feel that it is a slap in the face for us as activists against the legalising of dagga.”
Bhana continued, saying, “The message should be the same for alcohol and tobacco use. Statistics show us that dagga is a entry drug for all users and we are totally against its use.”
The Herald asked a 45-year-old resident, John Davies, for his opinion. He said, “I believe this is long overdue. Its exceptional medicinal value has been proved over and over. A wide range of illnesses can be treated with the oil, ranging from cancer to arthritis. ”
Davies also said he thinks that legalisation poses a huge threat to pharmaceutical companies. But he said he would not stop there. He advocates legalisation, even for recreational use. This has been done with great success in many countries across the world.
” I do not believe dagga is the ‘gateway’ drug. Alcohol is far worse and that is people’s first taste of a stimulant,” he said.
Another resident, 28-year-old Magda Cilliers, is very much against the upcoming new legalisation of dagga for medicinal purposes. She says that every person’s brain works differently, some people have low dopamine and/ or serotonin levels. These people normally suffer from depression. Smoking dagga can have a very bad affect on people suffering from depression or other mental disorders.
Magda went on to say: “I had a boyfriend who smoked dagga for a good few years. I saw with my own eyes how he became ‘ slow’. It seemed almost as if dagga was killing his brain cells. After that he started taking acid, and later cocaine.”
Following a two-year process of deliberations, investigations and research prompted by the Medical Innovation Bill, an announcement by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health was made on 23 November last year, to the effect that the Department of Health will soon regulate access to medicinal cannabis for prescribed health conditions.
This is said to be a victory for every South African unnecessarily suffering because of HIV/ AIDS, severe chronic pain, severe muscle spasms, vomiting or wasting arising from cancer, or severe seizures resulting from epileptic conditions where other treatment options have failed or have intolerable side effects.
ALSO READ: Dagga – coming to a pharmacy near you soon
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