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Sowande Uhuru calls for decriminalization of marijuana

Feels that leaders in the VI need to be proactive in making this decision
Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru agrees that marijuana should be decriminalized in the VI. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, appearing on the Morning Ride Show aired on ZROD FM earlier today, September 21, 2012 said that “we have to wait until the so-called first world countries do everything before we do it; whether we agree with it or not.”

Sowande, who was an At Large candidate in last year's election under the People's Patriotic Alliance (PPA), made this statement in response to a question posed by the host of the show, Paul ‘Gadiethz’ Peart, asking whether he thought that the decriminalization of marijuana would ever materialise in the Virgin Islands (VI). 

Sowande, who was a caller to the popular morning programme, added “if the first world countries say that they are taking out corporal punishment or capital punishment, whether we agree with it or not we’re gonna do it.” 

“We follow their lead on everything… if they say it’s ok for same sex marriages, we go ahead and do it” Sowande said. 

He remarked that some of those things we don’t have a choice on, but he was really homing in on the issue of the discussion currently taking place in America about the decriminalization of marijuana adding that only after that point some of our leaders will get up and “take the lead on it”. 

“We need them to take the lead on it now,” he said “because we have several families down here being persecuted for a simple choice that they’re making and it’s not having an impact on anybody else except for the people who are making that particular choice.” 

Sowande, commenting on societies in the first world, noted that they possessed many ailments and this led to their prison populations becoming overflown, added that he thought it was "foolish for us to follow their lead on certain aspects, if they have something good about their society, you can follow that but you don't have to follow every single thing in their society because obviously they have [problems]."  

He noted a telling statistic that showed "over 60 percent of people in the United States have tried marijuana before." "It baffles me why you would continue to persecute the majority of your population." he said after noting that statistics locally also show how widespread the use of marijuana is.

27 Responses to “Sowande Uhuru calls for decriminalization of marijuana”

  • dem say (21/09/2012, 10:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    tis bout time some one talk bout tis topic
  • Mary J (21/09/2012, 10:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    he wants all of us to be high like a kite every day?
    • Common Sense (21/09/2012, 10:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Rum is legal, do you see all of us drunk everyday?
    • Sure.. (23/09/2012, 23:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      No one would be forcing you to smoke. Plus, majority of the people are high like a kite every day.. What would be the difference?
  • rasta (21/09/2012, 10:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the green houses will grow some nice medical marijuana for export
  • BREAKING NEWS (21/09/2012, 11:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with you Sowande! I can also bet my life that is St. Thomas legalize it, the following weekend we will do it.
  • Crank Shaft (21/09/2012, 11:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Legalizing it for personal usage will be a damn good boost to tourism I can tell you that! Those people want to get 'blown' when they visit, even lawyers and certain 'affluent' ones, don't mind the noise.lol
  • bunny wailer (21/09/2012, 11:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    "follow fashion monkies"
  • gee (21/09/2012, 13:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    how can a tree, ocurring in its natural state the way that God made, it be illegal? during prohibition in the USA was sugar cane outlawed?
  • wow (21/09/2012, 14:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everything is permissable but not everything is beneficial.. Consider Adam and Eve, the whole garden was open for them, yet the one area God asked them not to touch they could not resist. This changed to out come of life as we know it today. Mr. Wheatly consider your words. With great power comes great responsibility!!!!! This is not just a saying but life.
    • @WOW (21/09/2012, 16:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      GOD, never talk about Marijuana, he says APPLE, MAC, DUDE not Weeed. Good topic sowande.
  • yellow tail (21/09/2012, 15:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    is this the few of the PPA? bouy Natalio cart your tail from here…
  • fool (21/09/2012, 15:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you go and do that, you going put the magistrate, police, dpp, clerks at magistrate, prison guards, chef at prison, one or two pastors OUT Of WORK......PARTNA ARE YOU CRAZY, DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA...HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.

    ONEEEEEEEE dime bag does help employ tooo many people!!!!! long n short
  • Mr. Ugly (21/09/2012, 16:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Paul needs to go back to Jamaica to freely smoke his weed. He have no respect for the law in another man land and wants to be an advocate for it in a foreign country. Well Paul I did not listen to the show because you are running out of material and sound like a sick child just looking to be fed but weed is not the medicine for us and if we catch you with it, you will be lock up.
  • Agree (21/09/2012, 16:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sowande don't mind the negative talk. We have two doctors in government and they fully well know the benefits of medical marajuana. But they will do nothing to legalise it. So many people suffering with illness when our God given rights is being denied to us by Powers that be.

    No matter how they cut it down or take it away from us, It will become legal one day soon. As it was in the beginning so it shall be in the end.
  • What a Thing! (21/09/2012, 16:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This dude just lost my respect. And Don't expect my vote either.
  • too much $$$$ (21/09/2012, 17:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Seems like he wants the world market to crash!
  • is it really wrong? (21/09/2012, 17:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    people of the bvi so afraid of the truth, they love living in fear, & fear to face the truth.
    i'm not a smoker or someone that use the herbs, not one time i ever smoke or sell it,but i have done my home work & ahve notice they is no harm is the herbs, no man woman or child have even die from it, just google people who died from herbs? none, so why is the bvi government so uptight about it? whats they so afraid of & for? most of you who saying this & that have not one time did your home work about the herbs, you all just say thing & thet, how can you tell people about jesus or the bible if you never read it? so you be telling people hear say? come on bvi, just asking you one time, just research that's my point!
  • homegrown (21/09/2012, 23:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    My back yard is the perfect place to plant them and yes the goverment can get thier share when iam done, one pound for them and i will take two pound for me.
  • dk1 (22/09/2012, 04:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I love this country.people are just halarious ...they make me laugh all the time...and I am not talking about Sowande...I am laughing at all the comments.
  • Non smoker (24/09/2012, 05:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Legalize it but tax it hard...
  • CHupps (24/09/2012, 17:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hear piss this dude talking..Ppl done aint responsible when drinking..you goin legalize weed?? pure chaos in the place. PLus...the scent of marijuana is way stronger than cigarettes. Legalize tha and all over this island ppl goin be smoking..and persons who dont smoke will be highly affected by it. If its illegal..ITS ILLEGAL. POINT BLANK.
  • Billfargo (24/09/2012, 22:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now! Here is someone that see the whole picture; Nature Little Secrets will be the most popular destination in the whole world, and you better believe it.


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