Musa Says There Will be Cannabis Public Awareness Campaign

Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa says G.O.B. is committed to carrying out a public education and awareness campaign on the pros and cons of cannabis. He also noted the high percentage of Belizeans who use marijuana, and the fact that other substances far more harmful are legal. 

Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries

Kareem Musa

“I hear the church’s call for greater public education and awareness campaigns. That is something I will certainly, as a minister, and our government, undertake to do. There has to be a public education campaign about the pros and cons, benefits and risks involved in cannabis. That has to be out there. I assured them of that the two times when I met with them. I see that call being made again and I am going to take the opportunity to say that we will fulfil and do undertake to have that public education campaign. It is estimated that thirty percent of our population is currently consuming cannabis. That thirty percent will continue to be there, whether we make it legal, or not. The fact is it is decriminalized at the moment and like I said, you don’t know what it is you are consuming. So, that thirty percent will always be there. And, if you are going to go down the road of discussing morality, we can discuss alcohol abuse and other drug abuse. But, alcohol is legal and it is more harmful to your health. That is what science is saying, not what I am saying, tobacco, and cigarettes, also legal in the country. I think for propaganda purposes over the last hundred years or so, there has been this propaganda against cannabis. But, at the end of the day it has been shown by science that it is not more harmful than the wine we are drinking in church.”