SECOND PRESEN TA T IO N THE ADVERSE EFFECT S O F C A NNABIS CULTIVATION, TRAF FIC KI NG AND CONSUMPT ION By ABENA Arma nd , C hie f Superintendent of Poli ce ( DP J /DGSN) zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA 22
INTRODUCTION zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Cannabis is a psychotropic natural plant which h as a dis r uptive effect on the functioning of the central nervous system. This e ff ec t g i ves cannabis consumers the feeling of having attained some sort of artifi c ial para di s e, or a feeling of strength , invincibility or boldness . This feeling of s up erior i t y is the principal cause of domestic violence by drug addicts (elders, siblings , fr i e nds ... ). The effects of cannabis cultivation, traffickin g and c on s umption ~re threc- fold: 1. The cultivation of cannabis gives rise to a crim inal a nd illegal trafficking market which it feeds and sustains over tim e; 2 . Cannabis cultivation also creates an inform a l crimina l economy which involves farmers who want to increase their revenu e, wh olesalers and semi- wholesalers who sell the goods across th e na t i o na l territ ory , retailers and at the end of the chain, consumers; 3. Cannabis consumption is irremediably link e d to violent c r i me (blood). It is these observations that shape and justify Gov ern m e nt ' s anti-drug policy (strict prohibition). Despite the easy avail a bility o f cannabis on the Cameroonian market, it is classified as a high-ri s k d rug (Ta ble 1) by the 1997 Cameroon law , which imposes severe crimin a l p e n a l t i es on the use of such drugs, that is, penalties which are imposed accord i ng to cr ime or tort . Government's commitment to intensif y th e figh t against cannabis cultivation , trafficking and consumption wa s seen in th e number of tough measures taken by the Force s of Law and Ord er to combat t h i s scourge. DETAILLED PLAN 1- The adverse effects of cannabis cultiv ation and c onsumption A . Adverse effects of the cultivation and traffick i ng o f the ca mlabis plant - The cultivation of cannabis gives rise to an ill e g al t r affi cking market which it feeds and perpetuates over time. - Cannabis cultivation also creates an inform a I und erg roun d cr i minal economy which generates a significant amount of unreport ed, hence untaxed revenue. B. Adverse effects of cannabis consumption - Cannabis consumption is closely linked to viol en t c rime . zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA 23
11- Measures to suppress can n abi s cult i v at ion, t rafficking and consumption zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Stlllcturaln1easur e s i \ . zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA - The c r eation of a Sub-Dep artment w i th in the Dir ec tor ate of the Judici a l Polic e, e x clusively responsible f or the f i g ht again s t drug a buse ; - Th e e nforcement of Law No. 97-019 of 7 A u gu s t 1 9 9 7 on the control of narcotic drugs , p s ychotropic substance s an d precur s or s. B . Contingency measure s - Th e systematic destruction of cannabis plant ati o ns ; - The reinforcement of measures conduct e d by th e Forces of Law a nd Order . • The use of the controll e d delivery tech nique ; • The destruction of int e rmediary s to rage area s and final de s tinations ; • The crinim a l cl ass ific at ion o f d rug - re lated offenc es ( b e in g investigated by th e Polic e ) pertain ing t o the hars hest penaltie s as provided by la w . 2 4
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