No to edible ganja products – Ras Iyah V
... calls for cannabis-oriented educational programmes
RASTAFARIAN ELDER Ras Iyah V, the chairman of the Westmoreland Hemp and Ganja Farmers Association, says he is against the provision of edible ganja products to patrons at locally staged ganja-related events.
“As it relates to ganja-related events, I am not in support of the provision of edibles to patrons. I reiterate, I am not in support of edibles,” said Ras Iyah V, an executive member of the Cannabis Licensing Authority. “Reason being, most of the individuals who provide these products have little to no scientific knowledge about ganja, for example, the percentage of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the ratio of ganja used to the other ingredients in the preparation of these edibles.”
PROPER LABELLING
Ras Iyah V, the driving force behind the annual Ganjamaica Cup event in Negril, said edibles should not be consumed unless they are properly labelled in keeping with the stipulations of The Bureau of Standards Jamaica, so that potential consumers know exactly what they are about to ingest.
However, despite his stance against edibles, Ras Iyah V also took a jab at the National Council on Drug Abuse, accusing the organisation of hypocrisy in its stance against the use of ganja.
“I am very concerned about the negative approach being taken by the ministries and agencies of the Government regarding ganja,” said Ras Iyah V, who has been the keynote speaker at ganja-related events across the globe. “I do not hear the same level of concern nor see the same level of zest being applied to the sale and consumption of cigarette and alcohol.”
“Where is the call to monitor the patrons who are leaving these alcohol events? Better yet, who are we to trust with this responsibility of ganja monitoring, when the police who are the so-called law enforcers allow themselves to be intoxicated on the job?” asked the Rastafarian.