PASTOR Dave Burrows.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A leading Christian Council official advising the body on its position on marijuana has come out against legalising the recreational use of the drug.
Pastor Dave Burrows is heading the Bahamas Christian Council’s committee examining the substance and its legal status in the country.
He gave insight yesterday into the possible position the council could take on the matter, telling The Tribune he supports reducing penalties but believes eliminating deterrents even for small amounts of marijuana would harm the country.
He is expected to submit his committee’s report to the Christian Council on March 10 before releasing it to the public. “I believe we have more than enough intoxication and impairment in our society so any increase in the level of consumption I cannot see producing a net benefit to our country,” he wrote in a discussion paper shared with this newspaper.
“As one who has worked in the field for years and seen the damage of drugs to personal well being and professional development, I cannot in good conscience support increased levels of intoxication.”
He cited research showing that after Colorado legalised marijuana, the state ranked number one in the US for youth marijuana use. Studies have linked
marijuana use among children and adolescents to cognitive deficits.
“Interestingly, the law (in Colorado) states that marijuana is only legal for those over 21 years old but usage among teenagers and children increased exponentially,” Pastor Burrows wrote. “So the first question of whether it will help our people particularly our youth seems to reflect that it will not help because we are likely to see increased level of consumption among youth and children.”
He also cited Colorado studies showing traffic deaths rose after recreational marijuana use was legalised. However, some experts say evidence is inconclusive about whether legalising marijuana leads to increased traffic incidents long-term.
Pastor Burrows cautioned about potential abuse of using marijuana for medical purposes. “A lot of people are for medicinal marijuana but their motive is not medicine,” he said yesterday. “People want to be free to get high and use medical marijuana as an excuse. I have several friends in California, one a former member of the Crips, and he has this medical marijuana prescription and we all know he doesn’t have any medical condition.”
Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis reiterated his support for marijuana reform during a Free National Movement rally on Tuesday night. The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana has recommended decriminalising possession of up to ounce of the substance for people 21 years or older. The commission also recommends granting Rastafarians the right to use cannabis as a sacrament, a position Pastor Burrows opposes.
“It is kinda hard to create a separate category of citizens,” he said. “I understand and respect everyone’s religious beliefs but from my own previous research with marijuana, it is a mind altering drug and whatever purpose people use it for, you get (messed) up. I definitely would not want to knock anyone’s religion or say anything negative from that perspective, but it’s hard to see that you would create a privilege for a special class when it’s a mind-altering substance.”
Mr Burrows said he was surprised the Bahamas National Committee on Marijuana’s consultation exercises did not encompass him.
“There could’ve been better consultation,” he said, “particularly I was surprised no one had contacted me because I am an expert in marijuana and I have several perspectives on it so I would have expected someone to contact me. I’m a graduate of Harlem in Nassau (McQuay Street) and University of Warren Street, a famous spot back in the day so I’m a street graduate, I know about these things.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 8 months ago
Legalize it, don't legalize, makes no difference. Kids and adults will still use it. At least with legalization you can monitor trends and adjust, rather than living in the dark making stats up every bloody day....
And you know what else? ENOUGH WITH THESE DAMNED PASTORS AND THEIR IGNORANT OPINIONS....
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 8 months ago
You obviously know absolutely nothing about the great body of medical evidence that conclusively ties serious cases of irreparable mental illness in teenagers to their smoking of today's genetically engineered super potent strains of marijuana. Your level of ignorance must have you living a truly blissful life.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 8 months ago
I know the right puts out pure bull just about every year. most of it scare tactics and all of it pure bs...
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
... then stop blowing hot air and just visit Sandilands to get the real facts on marijuana's effects on people in our population for yourself!
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 8 months ago
Um I've been smoking it now for over 30 years....
No bad effects yet and I have smocked the finest green....
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
... hasn't affected you (based on your assessment), but has affected others, again just visit Sandilands!!
DWW 4 years, 8 months ago
because it is so christian like to lock people up. every point he makes is complete an utter poppycock. he just doesn't want to lose his flock and his nice cushy income.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 8 months ago
Did you hear Neil Ellis talk about post illegal gaming regularization? He said he was shocked at the number of husbands coming in asking for help with their wives. I don't have any numbers but my intuition tells me the people who will be most at risk will be the straight laced people, the ones who never smoked, never drank, the ones who may try it because it's legal right? It can't be that bad. Drugs react differently with different people. Addictive substances work differently with different people. I think the pastor is right.
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
What most people in this country do not realize is that first world countries see their populations as never ending sources of income through taxes. The decriminalization of certain acts (prostitution) and drugs (mushrooms and marijuana) has nothing to do with the moral implications of those choices, but generating tax revenue. Having seen what drugs have done and is still doing to many in this country I think legalization would be a bad idea. But then again, politicians want to keep the dumbed down happy because it equals votes!
jackbnimble 4 years, 8 months ago
Pastor Borrows is from the streets but outside of that I’m sure he and his church did extensive research on this. I believe him and support his statement.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 8 months ago
You actually think a church does research?????
That'll be the day....
bogart 4 years, 8 months ago
Pastor Burrows needs after decades....an decades...an decades....of having his Religeous Church colleagues...having weed as a religeous rite in their Rastafarian movement. Pastor Burrows first needs to have conversation with religeous colleagues brothers and sisters in the Rastafarian.
NDIRISH 4 years, 8 months ago
The industrial opportunities of this plant are enormous and the right to possess and consume it is a moral and personal issue - not a government or legal one. I use CBD for anxiety and joint pain and it has been a life saver. My son is presently earning his master's degree in environmental engineering. He does not drink alcohol but he uses marijuana recreationally and he is a responsible, productive and highly intelligent young man. Marijuana is far safer than alcohol/ETOH and if Bahamas does not legalize it the country will miss an incredible opportunity to provide jobs and industrial growth to the country.
Dawes 4 years, 8 months ago
Then ban Alcohol, fast food, sodas, smoking cigarettes, being fat and many other things as these all cause issues. But no the mighty weed is the one to worry about.
Chucky 4 years, 8 months ago
The Christian counsel’s position on marijuana, well that’s rich!
A bunch of backwards religious wing nuts who believe in a fairytale god and antiquated teachings from books “from the fairytale god”; they have an opinion. Just wait well I get a pen so I can take notes.
Better yet, abandon your religion, which you should have already done due to the barbaric views it holds and has held since inception. The get an education on a subject before you open your mouth.
Why does anyone give these “POS” a platform to speak.
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
--- freedom of expression is a fundamental human right even if those views may differ from the views of others. Who gets to decide which opinions are the only ones worth hearing?
Chucky 4 years, 8 months ago
I don’t object to anyone’s free speech or opinion, but in no way is the platform given to religious dogma preaching measured or equal or proportionate in regards being heard as free speech.
It is the equivalent of the corrupt voice of money in politics and equally dangerous.
Chucky 4 years, 8 months ago
Further to my response, look at history, the religious used to burn witches at the stake; witchcraft another imaginary idea. They endorsed slavery in the bible, look what a wonderful joy that brought to so many
Religious views have proved to be some of the most dangerous in history.
Currently, here, they are protecting husbands right to sex, at the cost of rape to the unwilling wife.
Do you really want the news and other platforms to help make the voice of religion heard?
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
… their voice is just as valid as yours or mine whether there is agreement or not!! Actually political views are far more dangerous, just think of how many communism. authoritarianism, national socialism and all the other --isms have killed over the years. Far more than religion!
sheeprunner12 4 years, 8 months ago
The majority of Bahamians lack the self-discipline and tact to handle legalized marijuana …….. We cannot look at North America and Europe as examples of "free societies" and compare that with our culture of slackness and unaccountability ……. If Bahamians won't stop at red lights and put on their seatbelts, why would they stop drinking/smoking weed and driving???? …… Who is going to police them and ticket all of these drunk/high persons????????? …… Bahamians like to say that they want order/discipline, but do not respond well to it.
hrysippus 4 years, 8 months ago
Religion is the opiate of the people. Religious organizations in this country are completely unregulated. Anyone can start a church and begin soliciting weekly tithes. It is time that this large sector of our economy was not only regulated but also taxed. Surely the Christian Council will agree that it is only fair to give Caesar his renderings, Yes?
sealice 4 years, 8 months ago
the BCC shouldn't have any say in the politics of the Bahamas. We are real Bahamians with real needs that a bunch of child molesters and their fictional books can help us with.....
Chucky 4 years, 8 months ago
Ban religion, it has done more damage than anything to this world , and continues to do so.
Ask yourself, is this guy just another dirt bag flapping his gums while driving Mercedes to his big home paid for by skimming the collection plate while professing to do gods work.
joeblow 4 years, 8 months ago
... then ban politics too-- it has been the cause of virtually every war ever fought with a far higher death toll and more extensive oppression than "religion".
Chucky 4 years, 8 months ago
Religion has been the cause of many wars too
We can live without religion, hard to run a country without government
Chucky 4 years, 8 months ago
Lol. So true
bogart 4 years, 8 months ago
Church and State separate. The Churches organized under the BCC should be doing their mandate dere jobs, calling to uplift educate instill their wonderful powerfull lasting teachings to uplift nation, from babies, Sunday Schools and in return benefits from tax exempltions etcetc. The Church is an extremely powerful role in nation building and maintaining society....just seems they have not known each other.
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