Analysing The Rationalisation of Dagga Prohibition & the Persecution of Daggafarians
The Rebuttal of Dagga Prohibition: Analysing The Rationalisation of Glyphosate Herbicide Arial Cannabis Spraying as justified by the South African Police’s Dagga Ops Environmental Impact Assessment
There is no justice in persecuting any person struggling with addiction. You don’t help any druggie by jailing them. Why then do we sympathise with doomed alcoholics but we condemn responsible cannafarians?
What rationalisation is used to justify the incarceration of the cannabis culture?
Prohibition’s rationale is that cannabis must be prohibited and eradicated;
- to protect the public from harm,
- to curb crime,
- to eradicate crime syndicates & gangs,
- to reduce early exposure to children,
- to uphold the rights of citizens to life, freedom, dignity, respect & security.
Why shouldn’t cannabis be legalised & regulated?
There’s absolutely no reason why cannabis should not be legalised and there are about a billions reasons why it should be legalised & regulated around the world.
- Create a whole new industry & eradicate unemployment
- Health benefits
- Alternative source of energy, eg bio diesel.
- Alternative source of textiles & building material
- Alternative source of plastic & paper
- Nutritional value & dietary essential
- Only known plant with a full & comprehensive cannabinoid profile that supplements the endo-cannabinoid system
- Safer alternative to alcohol & tobacco
- Regulate out of the hands of children, syndicates & gangs
- Protect users by education & regulating the standard quality of the produce.
The Rebuttal of Dagga Prohibition: Analysing The Rationalisation of Glyphosate Herbicide Arial Cannabis Spraying as justified by the South African Police’s Dagga Ops Environmental Impact Assessment
The Dagga Ops EIAconsists of three documents, composed of an 11 page rationalisation for the eradication of cannabis by aerial spraying titled “A Perspective On The Aerial Spraying Of The Illicit Cannabis Crop IN THE TRANSKEI”, the registration of Kilo Max (Glyphosate) herbicide signed into commission on 25th May 2005 by the senior superintendent D. Naicker, commander of the head office of the narcotic & organised crime desk within the South African Police Service, and also affixed is the South African Central Drug Authority (CDA) Position Paper on Cannabis.
The most absurd rationalisation made by the South African Police Service is that they believe they are upholding the Constitution and the rights of citizens including daggafarians by upholding & forcefully enforcing dagga law.
“South Africa is committed to reduce the availability of drugs (control and law enforcement) and the demand for drugs (prevention, treatment and rehabilitation), thereby upholding the constitutional rights of its citizens to have their dignity respected and protected, the right to life and the right to freedom and security[ Sections 10 and 12(1) of Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996)].” – South African Police Service, Dagga Ops EIA
Part 1 – Page 3
This is seriously confusing, by forcefully barring the use and cultivation of dagga, and by jailing people who choose to use and cultivate dagga the Government & South African Police Service are upholding the dignity & rights of daggafarians? The right to life, to be free, to be respected & protected?
This notion is awfully contradicting because the Drug & Trafficking Act of 1992 is in breach of these very rights they claim to uphold. Hence why the Cape Town High Court has issued a judgement for this act to be amended.
There is no dignity in being labelled a criminal. There is no freedom when you are jailed for making a safer choice. You have no life if you cannot choose to use dagga for its medicinal properties?
As we continue to analyse the rational of the mandate its irrationality will come to light.
“In terms of the under-mentioned Article 14 of the United Nations 1988 Convention against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psycotropic Substances, signatory countries are compelled to take steps to eradicate illicit crops, such as cannabis”
Part 1 – Page 3
Al-Bashir: South Africa as a signatory to the International Criminal Court had a legal & lawful obligation to arrest Al-Bashir upon the issue of an international warrant of arrest for charges of war crimes. This was ignored by the Government thus establishing that as an independent country South Africa can disregard international laws and legalise dagga.
“BILL OF RIGHTS:
Drug Control, which is the regulation of production, distribution, sale and use of specific controlled substances rests on two pillars, namely demand reduction and supply reduction.
Supply reduction refers to policies or programmes aiming to interdict the production and distribution of drugs. Drug law enforcement (including cannabis eradication) is one of the strategies for reducing the supply of illicit drugs.”
Part 1 – Page 3
Dagga prohibition does not work to reduce supply when dagga is freely available in almost every school in South Africa.
“Adding another drug to the same category as alcohol and tobacco would be a historical mistake,”
Part 1 – Page 3
Clever propagandists; alcohol & tobacco are only drugs when it aligns with their agenda.
Certainly we cannot throw cannabis into the same category as alcohol & tobacco, because according to the latest research cannabis is much safer than the two. We should never forget that alcohol, tobacco, sugar & even nutmeg are also drugs.
We must also remember that legalising dagga will not add another vice because even though dagga is illegal it is.
“HERBICIDE IN USE:
Glyphosate ‘has no residual effect in the soil and is therefore environmentally benign. It has a low order of toxicity in respect of humans and animals.’”
Part 1 – Page 1
The premise of the statement is that drift or contamination of glyphosate outside of the target or designated area is not possible. It is a logical fallacy. Just because something does not have a prolonged effect does not mean it is environmentally benign. The toxicity of glyphosate is also downplayed, the World Health Organisation have admitted that glyphosate does cause cancer.
“Glyphosate ‘is freely available to the public under the brand name TOUCHDOWN PLUS’”
Part 1 – Page 1
This statement is to affirm that because the product is freely available to the public it must be safe. Unfortunately many unsafe products are freely available to the public.
“SAFE SPRAYING PRACTICES:
The equipment with regard to aerial spraying had been developed to a very high degree of sophistication to ensure that chemicals are applied to the target area.”
Part 1 – Page 1
Just because the technology is sophisticated does not mitigate human error or other environmental factors like sudden & unpredictable changes in during spray operations.
The toxicology of herbicide used by the SA Police Service was reviewed by an independent, qualified toxicologist. The development of the eradication programme was done under the personal supervision of the toxicologist.
Part 1 – Page 1
The dagga eradication programme was developed under the guidance of a single “expert”. Who is he/she? What are his/her qualifications? It is highly irregular that such drastic measures are overseen by only one expert. (Since writing of the article the expert has been identified as Dr Gerhard Verdoorn)
Only pilots and members, trained and certified to handle crop spraying chemicals, are utilized during spraying operations.”
Part 1 – Page 1
Pilot certification & experience does not make glyphosate less harmful.
“Cannabis is cultivated in South Africa in mainly arable, relatively water rich areas, especially mountainous terrain covered with indigenous flora. Spraying must therefore be executed under the most stringent conditions, as to not damage these highly sensitive eco-systems. All spraying is controlled and executed in accordance with scientific principles and acceptable toxicological practices.”
Part 1 – Page 1
Just because the eradication programme was developed in accordance to scientific principles and acceptable toxicology practises does not mean in practise it does not have any negative impact on the environment, the food crops, livestock and the people in the immediate vicinity.
There are no guarantees that the dagga ops pilots follow scientific principles and acceptable toxicological practices every time they go out on an operation.
“The calibration of equipment is frequently checked and spraying is only done under the most favourable conditions. Weather conditions, such as barometric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, dew point and inversion conditions are continuously considered to minimize the risk of spray drift, as well as to ensure that the chemicals are effected to targets.”
Part 1 – Page 1
Calibrated equipment cannot compensate for human error, the unpredictable nature of wind nor can it make glyphosate less harmful.
Here the document admits that spray drift / contamination occurs during normal operation and at best they can only minimise the risk, they cannot avoid risk.
“Aerial spraying of illicit narcotic crops (including cannabis) with Glyphosate is recommended by an Expert Group of the United Nations. The Expert Group expresses them very clearly on specific issues such as damage to the environment, chemicals and application technology (areal application). In this regard they:
• Clearly state that significant damage is caused to the environment, including forest eco-systems, resulting from inter-alia cannabis production and that these impacts are totally unacceptable. It was stated and emphasized that with regard to adverse environmental impacts, illicit narcotic plant production and processing had a very much greater impact on the environment and potentially on human health, than the control methods applied in any eradication programme.”
Part 1 – Page 1
Any agricultural malpractices may cause damage to the environment this is true; however this does not apply to every outdoor cannabis crop. This would need to be investigated individually. This statement would have you believe that cannabis is not indigenous to Earth and is an invasive weed that must be eradicated to extinction.
To insinuate that spraying cannabis crops with glyphosate is less harmful than growing cannabis is an insult to intelligence of an average man.
“Recognize the development of highly affective, environmentally safe herbicides. They reaffirm earlier conclusions that when used responsibly and with caution that these herbicides have low negative environmental impacts. The toxicology of compounds (including Glyphosate) had been considered by them.”
Part 1 – Page 2
The premise here is based on perfect weather conditions and perfect execution, neither of which translates in practise. Thus a low negative environmental impact is highly unlikely in the real world.
“Application technology e.g. precision of application reducing any potential environmental impacts, such as aerial spraying by helicopters, is fully recognised in eradication programmes. It was stated that specifically against cannabis, very effective control can be achieved with certain aerial spray equipment, with no evidence of herbicide effects outside the target area.”
Part 1 – Page 2
Circumstantial and baseless claim with no references. Evidence does exist to show effects of glyphosate outside of target areas.
“South Africa is a signatory to the different United Nations conventions on drug control and therefore adheres to their resolutions and recommendations regarding eradication of illicit plants such as cannabis.”
Part 1 – Page 2
Yet the South African government may disregard the orders of the International Criminal Court? Reference: Al-Bashir
Again a reference is made to the eradication of cannabis as if it is not indigenous to Earth.
How can we call for the conversation of plants on one hand while on the other we are trying to eradicate a beneficial plant into extinction?
Why are these methods not used in combating other produce of illicit trade? Why aren’t we eradicating every last abalone? Why don’t we kill all rhinos & elephant just to curb the illicit trade of rhino horn & ivory?
What makes the cannabis plant special? Why is cannabis not allowed to grow wild in nature?
“The South African Narcotics Bureau (SANAB) was established in 1974 in order to deal with the prevention, combat and investigation of drug-related crime, and the gathering and dissemination of drug-related intelligence. Cannabis eradication forms an integral part of its activities. SANAB is currently mandated to maintain a cannabis eradication programme. According to the definitions of this Act, performing any act in connection with "cultivation", means to "deal in".”
Part 1 – Page 2
SANAB was disbanded 11 years ago in 2004, there is no justifiable reason to continue the mandated use of glyphosate in the eradication of dagga.
“INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON DRUG CONTROL:
Despite general believe, the use or possession of cannabis will not be legalized in South Africa in the near future.”
Part 1 – Page 2
This statement is ignorant because it does not consider new scientific discoveries regarding cannabis nor does it account for cannabis legalisation around the world.
“South Africa is unable to legalise the use of certain illicit drugs due to its ratification of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs, amended by the 1972 Protocol, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention mentioned below. Parties to the 1961 convention are under obligation not to permit the possession of drugs for personal non-medical consumption.”
Part 1 – Page 2
Referring to how South Africa ignored the International Criminal Court regarding Al-Bashir:
We are an independent country and we cannot be prescribed by foreigners on issues that affect South Africans. We may consider their guidance but we do not have to follow it.
Furthermore Colorado, a US state, as well as Uruguay have legalised recreational cannabis in defiance of the 1961 Convention.
“Cannabis is by far the most widely and most frequently abused drug listed in the international drug control treaties.”
Part 1 – Page 2
This is incorrect. Worldwide, alcohol is the most widely & most frequently abused drug.
“In its latest report, the UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) invited all governments and other relevant bodies to take note of and discuss the new liberal policies in a number of countries and pointed out that the World Health Organization should be involved in the evaluation of not only the potential medical utility of cannabis, but also the extent to which cannabis poses dangers to human life. If the results of scientific research objectively show that cannabis is medically useful, it will remain a scheduled substance, one that deserves strict control.”
Part 1 – Page 2
They don’t yet fully understand the “potential medical utility” or “dangers to human life” but have decided cannabis will remain a scheduled substance & deserves strict control, unlike alcohol which you can abuse to death. A bit premature don’t you think?
“The Central Drug Authority also considers the issue of decriminalization one that needs to be researched thoroughly before deciding the way forward. In the recent case of Prince versus The Law Society of the Cape of Good Hope before the Constitutional Court, the question of legalising the use of cannabis by Rastafarians came under scrutiny. The Constitutional Court did not judge in favour of the appellant, but reserved its judgement.”
Part 1 – Page 4
The research has been done. Colorado & Uruguay have successfully legalised and regulated recreational dagga.
Thus far we have only covered the first 4 pages of the Dagga Ops EIA and it is clear that this mandate is out-dated and does not consider the latest world scientific research of dagga and glyphosate.
It is our view that Dagga Ops is in violation of the Constitution of South Africa in respect to the well-being of the ecology of South Africa.
The mandate’s rationale is out-dated and we call upon the Minister of the South African Police Service to repurpose the helicopters used for Dagga Ops to fight real crime like domestic violence, rape and murder or to aid in finding missing children or even the early detection of forest fire to prevent a repeat of the devastation caused by the Knysna fires.
Dagga is a harmless plant that deserves to grow in the wild, public park or in the gardens.