Police bosses back war on marijuana

SUVA – Despite opinions posted in Letters to the Editor forums in the local dailies, and comment on radio talk back shows about the possibility of legalising the cultivation of marijuana in the country, Fiji’s Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald says this is “not a healthy option”.

This is in light of the 6756 plants uprooted in the past two weeks through the Fiji Police Force’s Operation Sasamaki, which has so far led to the arrest of 23 people for cultivation and possession of marijuana.

Speaking to the Fiji Times newspaper, Groenewald said he was of the view that people were only discussing the possibility of legalising the drug for their own gain – and not for the purposes of making it legally obtainable.

“I think the legalisation of marijuana per se, whether it is cultivation or the possession, is an international issue,” he said.

“It has been raised in many countries and also in the United States of America where we know there are some states that have legalised the cultivation of marijuana for specific purposes – medical purposes for instance, but I don’t think it is a good thing.

“I think the side effects of the use of marijuana are still seen to me as a serious drug and I will not be in favour of that.”

He explained that in his time in Fiji so far as the Commissioner of Police, he noted the trend in Fiji was that individuals cultivated marijuana on their farms for the sole purpose of gaining an income.

“In comparison to where I came from, cultivation is absolutely a part of the crime syndicate – it is very much higher than here, the case here is that mostly individuals are cultivating this for an income.”

In a police statement issued regarding Operation Sasamaki, chief operations officer ACP Rusiate Tudravu said marijuana remains an illegal drug in Fiji.

“There have been discussions about legalising the cultivation and use of marijuana, but as far as Fiji’s laws are concerned it’s illegal and that is where we are basing our enforcement and operations from,” he said.

“Our children are watching what is happening so we should be setting good examples and show them that there are many ways of earning a living through hard work.

“We don’t want them to have the impression that marijuana cultivation is an easy quick way of earning a living as it is illegal and there are consequences of getting involved in such activities that would ultimately affect their future.”

Tudravu said ‘Operation Sasamaki’ has led to the arrest of 25 people allegedly involved in the cultivation of marijuana.

Police in Fiji say authorities are looking to identify income generating projects for farmers in the country’s northern division, to replace cultivating marijuana.

Fiji Village reports Commissioner Luke Moroivalu saying provincial administrators were looking at planting sandalwood trees as a suitable alternative to generate income for farmers so they don’t resort to growing cannabis.

Moroivalu added that he met with the provincial administrators and divisional officers last week to discuss suitable income-generating projects for Kadavu and the other divisions.

He said a team will soon visit Kadavu to carry out capacity building meetings with the villages.