VI should not be jailing persons for marijuana- Magistrate Richard G. Rowe
Mr Rowe, who has been practicing law in the VI for more than a decade, was at the time a guest on the online radio show, Fresh Radio Vybz with host Paul A. Peart aka 'Gadiethz' on January 7, 2018, when he disclosed his personal view on the controversial issue of marijuana use.
California recently became the latest state in the United States of America (USA) to decriminalise recreational marijuana use and this sparked fresh debate locally on the topic, including whether the Virgin Islands should take a similar path as California.
In the past, talk show host Doug Wheatley and even Minster for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) have spoken out against incarcerating persons for marijuana use.
Marijuana less potent than alcohol & tobacco
And according to Jamaican attorney Mr Rowe, society should not be prosecuting persons for a substance that is scientifically proven to be less potent than alcohol and tobacco.
Further, he said the herb has proven to be of medicinal value.
He said in the VI persons “should not be incarcerated or fined for taking a substance that is less potent than these other drugs…” and said he would welcome when the Territory releases VIslanders “from such deprivation of their liberty.”
Law must be enforced in meantime
Mr Rowe, reminded; however, that foremost he is a magistrate and has a duty to enforce the law whether he agrees with it or not or thinks it is “immoral or unjust or unethical.”
According to him, the law has to be enforced in the VI as legislators require.
Marijuana not a drug- Doug Wheatley
Host of the ‘Speak Out BVI’ radio programme on ZBVI 780 AM, Doug Wheatley on October 4, 2016 had suggested that a halt on imprisoning persons for the use of marijuana is more practical for addressing the overcrowding of Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsum Ghut.
He continued, “First of all I think we need to stop putting people in jail for marijuana and that will create quite a space in the prison. We don’t need to do that because we understand it has been said over and repeated times that marijuana is not a drug and we should not be locking up people for smoking them and that will free up a lot of cells,” Mr Wheatley had pointed out.
It was on December 14, 2017 in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly when the Minister responsible for youth and for prison, Hon Walwyn, called for the VI drug laws to be amended so persons would not be imprisoned for small quantities of marijuana.
According to him, too many young men in the VI were being jailed for tiny amounts of weed, noting that throwing persons in jail for simple drug offences placed them at risk of getting involved in future crimes.
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28 Responses to “VI should not be jailing persons for marijuana- Magistrate Richard G. Rowe”
the BVI should not facilitate members of the judiciary who are hell bent on expressing personal opinions.
Any educated person will know that this type behaviour from a person who is paid to separate self (personal onion) from job, to be unbiased in their judgments, and to uphold the laws of the land without respect to their personal objections to such laws Is a recipe for disaster.
He must play his role without and hint of partiality. Otherwise he should step down from the magistracy and then yap all he wants. He is violating his oath to this country and the magistracy to uphold the laws.
And when things turn around People like you and those who support him in this nonsense like to cry foul when police government and others don't do their jobs
"Mr Rowe, reminded; however, that foremost he is a magistrate and has a duty to enforce the law whether he agrees with it or not or thinks it is “immoral or unjust or unethical.”
The Americans and Europeans will change their laws as soon as the political tide had changed, that they can make the illegal legal and thus capitalize upon a billion dollar industry.
The baby boomers and sixties "flower" children/people have arrived in political power and their views were brought with them. Thus the evident legislation flooding every state political halls for legalization of weed in the US and Canada in particular.
Meanwhile, every one else appears stuck a in moral and legal whirlpool, while a few governments and countries are doing the capitalist thing, making money.
So our government and society, in particular, can continue to keep their heads buried between their moral and religious legs, while the rest of the world gets richer from that God given plant.
A relative with parkinsons get some ganga tea the other day and the shaking ease up a lot. The medicine from the doctor was giving more side effects than the ailment. The more tea he get, the less he shake and I can see the difference. Now, how can that be illegal.