Cannabis: Moving from Insanity to Industry

Patrick Martin

May 15, 2019

According to Einstein, insanity is, “Doing the same things over and over and expecting different results”.

Since colonialism, we have been doing a same thing.We have been acting out a deception that caused the demonization of a plant that has profound medicinal and industrial properties. 

In the interim, on our behalf, government spends tens of millions every year to destroy creation and to incarcerate growers and users. 

What do we have to show for such expenditure? Hundreds with criminal records, and no contribution to GDP. 

While we are shooting ourselves in the foot, others are cashing in. In fact, where cannabis legalization has been coupled with robust health promotion, tax revenue has increased while recreational use has either moderated or decreased.

A cannabis industry for St. Kitts and Nevis is bigger than Alki David. He is a potential investor, not “the next best thing since slice bread”. 

Like all other potential investors, Alki will have to pass investor impact assessments commensurate with ours being a nation of laws. 

Thus, the bigger picture is creating a united, non-partisan front to present St. Kitts and Nevis as an attractive investment destination but a nation of laws and unshakable pride.

A nation of jellyfish we are not! The Buckley’s Estate martyrs, Marcus Garvey, and our national heroes paved the way for political and socioeconomic progress based on self-reliance, solidarity and rule of law. 

Yesterday, the agricultural side of the journey included cotton and sugar for export benefit only. Today, agriculture ought to be about food security, and growing plants with medicinal and industrial benefits with the value-added done locally.

Cannabis demonization is an external-origin distraction aided and abetted by internal agents of control. Their game is to undermine indigenous production to prevent ordinary people from enjoying the highest possible quality of life. 

Now that the deception has been exposed, the St. Kitts and Nevis electorate should appoint better shepherds to position the nation to be a strong player in the agricultural marketplace as a net producer.

Press conference profanity and disrespect are to be condemned but ought not derail cannabis industry progress. F-bombs have been dropped at the Music Festival but the show goes on. If a thing has a GDP benefit, its social and economic positives far outweigh personality negatives. Bring it on!