Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says marijuana is illegal and needs to be eradicated. He made the comment after Kadavu villagers asked for a substitute crop as police continue the fight against marijuana farms on the island.
To this, Mr Tudravu responded that the Fiji Police Force could not provide an alternative crop and villagers should turn to crops they had planted before the introduction of marijuana.
“The question that was raised was what can substitute marijuana and from the police point of view we cannot answer that and we cannot propose something to substitute that because it is illegal,” he insisted.
“From the police point of view when something is illegal we will just have to get it out.”
The people of Kadavu, he said, had been surviving on dalo and yaqona cultivation and sales.
He said they had an abundance of resources in the sea around them as a means of survival. Mr Tudravu said the force would not rest and would continue to uproot all the marijuana plants they came across around the country. This does open up an interesting scenario. In fact the question is quite interesting in itself.
It actually falls on the powers that be to be part of the solution alongside the farmers. This will mean an alternative crop that is viable, and will enable the farmer to live off the land.
There can be no doubts about the impact of marijuana sales. It has virtually changed the way some people live their lives now. Many farmers see it as a lucrative line of business which is probably one reason they are planting it. Many farmers have reaped the benefits of selling marijuana.
We realise the negative impact on the end user. It raises all sorts of questions as well. The drug trade, without a doubt, is obviously being seen as a lucrative one by people who are willing to risk a brush against the law. So it is encouraging to see our law enforcers being proactive.
We can only hope the massive amounts of drugs uncovered by the police are not truly reflective of what appears to be an overwhelming scenario. Questions will definitely be raised about related issues though and how much of these drugs are actually being sold on our streets?
Figures being floated around point at an industry worth millions of dollars, easily making this a very lucrative proposition! Overcoming this challenge requires a concerted effort from every stakeholder, from the State, to the average man and woman on the street.
It may be tough, but that may mean, possibly as a proactive and preventative measure, providing the base for an alternative crop for farmers who are prepared to move away from marijuana. It is clear to see that farmers are staring at a very lucrative industry.
They know it is illegal. We hope this is not about trying to justify the farming of marijuana.
We realise the lure of money and financial considerations can be overpowering indeed. Something must be done.
Let’s talk about solutions please.
