Sifco hosts national discussion on cannabis |22 July 2022
The Seychelles Interfaith Council (Sifco) hosted a national discussion on cannabis yesterday at the headquarters of the National Council for Children (NCC) at Bel Eau.
The panel consisted of Noella Gonthier, director of Care; Diana Gerry, programme manager at the Division for Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DSAPTR); Nelson Esparon from the Seychelles Kanabis Association, and Stefan Knights from the Attorney General’s office.
The four panellists made a presentation on why they were lobbying against and for the legislation of cannabis.
Right on the onset, Mrs Gonthier presented the position of Care which is ‘no’ to recreational use of cannabis. “Yes cannabis is a natural plant, but it is a drug. Care keeps working with children and youth across Seychelles and has done some surveys with the children and youth. We talk to the head teachers of schools and have a clear idea of what is going on in society. Care is not against the medicinal use of cannabis.”
Mr Esparon noted that they are lobbying for the use of cannabis for adult only. He spoke about how a law was instated in 1937 and how wrong that was. “Cannabis is a plant and no one can violate our rights because of a plant. Our other point of concern is that cannabis can be used to cure many diseases and so far the list has not been submitted yet. I am also concerned about the children using cannabis but adults should be able to go somewhere safe to be able to get cannabis.”
Ms Gerry started her presentation by asking a very important question: If marijuana becomes legal for adults, how will prevention programmes adapt messages to prevent kids from using?
“Our major concern is that marijuana market may be able to become irresponsibly, as tobacco and alcohol, and while marijuana is as risky as these other drugs, it still poses risk – notably, the possibility of addiction. Some people who smoke marijuana have lots of problems. They have trouble quitting even though they want to. They smoke more than they intended to and they neglect their responsibilities. People say that marijuana is harmless, largely based on their own experiences with the drug. One thing we should not ignore, doctors claim that marijuana is harmful – that can be easily ignored. But when marijuana users themselves claim to have problems, maybe that is worth listening to and take it seriously.”
Ms Gerry also spoke about the increase in mental health seen among cannabis users.
“Marijuana use might have permanent effects on the developing brain when use begins in adolescence, especially with regular or heavy use. Legalisation can make getting marijuana easier for teens. They might have a friend or family member who is using and sharing with them. There are real risks for people who use marijuana, especially youth and young adults, and women who are pregnant.”
Mr Knight concluded the debate by providing a succinct overview of the general trends in law regarding cannabis, by highlighting the current law in Seychelles on cannabis, and highlighting the possible legislative direction that the government and National Assembly may consider.
He presented two international legal frameworks on medical cannabis – the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by its 1972 Protocol, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.
Mr Knight also spoke about the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Regional Commission on Marijuana.
“International Drug Conventions have been labelled ‘redundant’ and dysfunctional even by UN bodies and now lack the legitimacy and consensus to seriously challenge law reform. International treaty instruments derive their authority from consensus in the international sphere, thus the fact that so many countries, including important allies like Canada, have deviated from them, undermines their authority. In conclusion, in 2018, there are now deep rationales for law reform of the harmful, ineffective and unjust prohibitionist legal regime that currently informs cannabis, supported by strong public opinion and credible scientific and empirical data and analysis. The Commission also recommends that CARICOM Member States work together to formulate a formal, regional position on the need to amend the existing UN treaties that govern cannabis. In the interim, Member States should declare that the treaties contravene human rights principles in CARICOM states, so as to ground a justification for avoiding treaty obligations.”
About the current law in Seychelles, Misuse of Drugs (Cannabidiol-based Products for Medical Purposes) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 25 of 2020), Mr Knight pointed out that “By law, people in Seychelles can access cannabidiol-based products for medical purposes in Seychelles as a last resort medical treatment. In practice, this is not possible because the Public Health Commissioner has failed to declare which illnesses or medical conditions are qualifying medical conditions to access cannabidiol-based products.”
What next for Seychelles?
Mr Knight talked about the different types of cannabis and how a responsible government will never make laws that will affect society. “It is important to understand the different types of cannabis and the level of CBD and THC.”
The discussion was followed by some valid questions from the attendees and the chairman of Sifco, Reverend Danny Elizabeth, thanked the panellists where different points of view on cannabis were raised. “The more we talk about an issue, the better informed we become when it is time to make decisions. Sifco is engaged in debates on what is going on in society and we will have similar debates.”
After the panel discussion, a lunch was organised in honour of retired Bishop Denis Wiehe at the Palm Seychelles.
Vidya Gappy
Photos contributed by Sifco
