Here comes a little of my standard policy, remedy instead of critics: If the government of the USA really wanted to tackle the drug use of its citizens, it could do several things. But it does not. It goes on to only condemn it, keep it illegal and wage war against it. As the European intruders came into the beautiful continent of north America, and waged war against the original inhabitants, so do the offspring of those European intruders wage war against its own people today. First by  keeping a large group poor, then by allowing only two substances (alcohol and tobacco) to entertain, third by polluting the world more than any other nation on earth. Reasons enough to call the richest, most wasting way of life a sort of war against itself. The changing weather is proof of worldwide pollution of which the USA contributes 25%, although it has only 7% of the worlds population. The war against drugs is a futile exercise, bound to fail, as long  as the demand for those drugs continues. Already more people are in jail in the USA than in any other country on earth, it continues to lock people up for only seeking a little relief from everyday stress and strain. If the highest governing body really wanted to do something sensible about it, it could make a designer drug, that would be so fantastic, so harmless, and so cheap that everybody could enjoy it. Special education about the effects could be put in place, special days could be set aside for the celebration of the mind with that drug. With the use of a better, cheaper and legal substance all other drugs would disappear from the streets at once. To replace all illegal dangerous, impure and expensive substances with one safe, cheap and potent drug is not impossible. But it is not done. The most powerful nation on Earth struggles on like a man in quicksand, by waging war against the multitudes who now try to use, supply and transport the substances that people ask for. Why people ask for it is never asked, what is the reason that these drugs, that makes one step out of reality for a moment are so popular, is not the criterion. That they are asked for is enough. And must be stopped by all means. To take away the reason why the people crave a little stress relief is not even talked about. One wonders if the governing powers are of good will at all. If they are not infected with the self destructive ideas that put man against man, brother against brother and so on. These thoughts go through try brain and I cannot and will not believe that my brain is any different from yours or theirs. Why then do I see  the solution, to make a drug that is better and safer than all others and make it legal and educate about it? This is done in natural communities in South America where the Indians use Yupa (a natural plant substance) once in a while together, to reach an altered state of mind that allows one to know that there is more than everyday feelings and that fuels the mind enough for the rest of the year. They communicate with God when they are in the grip of this substance, they transcend into another dimension and once been there can function for the rest of the year in harmony, love and peace again. Shall the offspring of the European invaders into the Americas ever see the light? Or will they ever combat the reasons that people look for mind blowing experiences?

Always on the lookout for a piece of spicy information I found our friendly island mentioned in the Playboy Magazine of this month. I quote Jeffrey Robinson from his story: “The Terrorist Dollar”. On page 74 third column:  “Russian gangsters for example, regularly huddle with Colombians in the islands of the Caribbean. Aruba, St.Vincent and Antigua are the usual venues, but the Dutch section of St.Martin has become popular in recent years. Russian mobsters and Colombian traffickers sail together on cruise ships out of those ports.” Mr. Robinson may have his information from the bellhops in the hotels where these people stay, who knows? I did enjoy the Russian ballet dancers show a few month ago, is there any connection or is it just coincidence? Money smells good, so who cares who brings it? I'm waiting for a Colombian ballet group, see if they dance as good as the Russians... And although I said it once before, I say it here once more: as long as the governments do not make drugs legal, sell them in pharmacies, under medical control, taxed and accounted for, it is those same governments that create the criminals that now do the business that could be in the hands of legal and taxpaying companies. The people that use drugs are not going to stop using them, no matter what. It is the governments that are creating the criminals that they fight hands and teeth, in a war that is totally ridiculous and brings shame to any well thinking citizen who sees that 30 years of war on drugs has not diminished the trade with one percent. The comic strip Doonesbury had its main character say this: “Why are we at war with a nonaddictive drug that kills nobody when we tolerate an addictive drug like tobacco that has slaughtered millions?”

 You tell me; why the war on marijuana users is a most irrational social policy, with only Holland openly defying the USA policy, while the rest of Europe is awakening to the truth. when will St.Maarten/St.Martin grow up mentally and also allow its youth to use a nonaddictive drug that never has killed anybody? Instead of letting tobacco advertisements openly be displayed everywhere?

Those famous or infamous 500 kilos of drugs. Confiscated before the eights month of the year is out. The criminals that lost them, who worked hard to get them so far, who       maybe planned to lose them, in order to get 5000 kilos through. The money the 500 kilos are worth is enough to pay for the needed police cars, for the much needed alcohol test kits, for the road safety, signs, markings, etc. Legalize it and sell it to those who buy it right flow anyway. 500 kilo stopped, 5,000 through. In order to stop it all it must be legalized. Take it away from the crooks. Take it in the governments distribution system, coffee shops for the ganja, marijuana, cannabis, hashish. Pharmacies for cocaine and heroine and crack. To be sold on doctors prescription only. Set a fair price and be done with it. The foolish behavior of the law at present makes perfectly honest people criminals and makes perfect4bad criminals rich. It drains enormous energy from the police, justice system and prisons, gives a wrong image to the youth and does not prevent the use at all, although the present law was designed to halt drug use. There was a time that alcohol was banned in the USA. Canada’s Seagram made its fortune by shipping alcohol to the US. Bonny and Clyde were the famous criminals that drank whisky in teacups and killed opponents in spectacular shootouts. The alcohol ban had to be reversed and Liquor became government taxed and controlled. Today the same is happening with drugs. Criminals are ripping each other off, even shootings and killings take place right here on our small friendly island. Because drugs are wanted. For various illnesses and conditions that are not described as such. Ask a cannabis user what exactly it does for him. He will hardly be able to tell you. A good feeling is as accurate as he can go. Years of criminalizing it has made part of the populati6n believe that it is bad. Bad for health, brain, society, work and what not. If it was, Europe would not legalize it. Holland would have stopped the use in coffeehouses long ago Lf it was so dangerous. No matter tat all is said against Holland, it has a prosperity second to none, educational Institutes that churn out doctors, economists, chemists and engineers by the scores. It is a small country that with a population of 15 million can compete with countries many times its size. Its drug policy is been followed by Switzer—Land, England, Portugal, Spain and Italy. The two biggest countries, Germany and France take a little longer but cannot continue to fight what others legalize . Canada, like in the time of the alcohol ban, now supplying the US with marijuana, is estimated making 4 billion dollars a year of the illegal  trade (see Time, 20 August 2001) Prime minister Patterson from Jamaica has explained to Washington that his country is now nbr 1 going to legalize ganja, regardless of the USA’s stubborn continuation of the unwinnable war. There is St. Maarten in the picture of international politics on drugs? Why do we not hear a word from our elected politicians on the subject, are they too busy quarreling over the separate status? That way they lose the chance to be the second prime destiny in the Caribbean after Jamaica is going to be lost. Our economy does not seem the priority with the politicians to have the power to condone the use of cannabis as they condoned the selling of sex in brothels.

On Tuesday , 28 august 2001 the Daily Herald was the only paper to report on Prime Minister Patterson's visit to Washington. A report of a commission of inquiry in Jamaica has come to the same conclusions as so many  European countries . Ganja, cannabis, marijuana should be legalized. Patterson finds the recommendations of the commission very persuasive and this autumn his government will make changes within the law.

The USA sees decriminalization incompatible with the 1988  U.N. convention on drugs. And is already threatening Jamaica's  status under the certification process. While the USA ignores ballistic treaties, the Kyoto Protocol, and lately the conference on racism, and the International Criminal Court of Justice as well. I wonder how it dares to point the finger to other countries when itself acts without the consent of the rest of the world. Canada from the north is legalizing cannabis, Jamaica from the south. The classical pincher movement is being executed here, with the USA in the middle.

Sint Maarten should take its place between the modern thinking nations. To show that it has an independent meaning and a strength that defies the bully in the north. The economic benefit of legalizing cannabis, as long as the USA does not, will be enormous. That is why Patterson is not intimidated  by the threat of the USA. He dares to stand up for his views.

Anybody in St. Maarten has the guts? Or are our leaders only followers of the USA ? To keep the drug trade in the hands of the criminal organizations it has to stay illegal. The USA is right now part of the criminals that make millions of dollars that stay out of the tax collectors plans.

Does St. Maarten depend on U.S. financial aid? If not, there is nothing to fear from legalizing pot right here. And I also dare to say that I am against USA military bases on Curacao, that will draw the Netherlands Antilles in the lost war against small farmers that supply the basic materials for the cocaine that the American population is eager to receive. If the USA cannot stem the demand, it should not abuse small countries like Curacao to continue its outdated military approach. The great Kemel Ataturk said many years ago: "Order at home, order in the country, order in the world", in that order.

That Curacao can lend itself to be part of the war that looks much like the lost Vietnam war is unacceptable. Status Aparte, lets quickly disassociate ourselves from such troublesome policies.

It is a known fact that white people in the US use 9 times more cocaine then black people. Still blacks are imprisoned 13 times more then whites for the same offense. Racism is a terrible truth in the USA. Should we not disassociate ourselves from such a blatant abuse of human right and dignity?

Legalize, control, educate, instead of prosecute, lock up and punish. Drugs do not go away, They are here to stay. As peoples prosperity grows, they feel entitled to also enjoy good feelings. Money and a big car do not give satisfaction in the long run. They are part of the material world. Drugs give the inner experience, is what men are looking for. No religion, no laws or police , nothing can stop men from trying drugs that gods plants provide. War is stupid. Violence is lack of intelligence, education is the key to understanding and eventually growing over and above the danger of drugs.

Magazine Time, August 20. An article in it explains how much of the continent has decriminalized cannabis. How much time the police can now spend on serious crime. How the drug use in general has dropped over the last decade. How in the UK plans are in the make to sell cannabis in licensed shops for off-premise use, just like liquor, health warnings and all. It will be procured from licensed growers. It will hurt drug syndicates and help make dope simply boring. The same reasons the Swiss gave for a new law that permits the legal production of marijuana for residents use. The United States policy is not likely to change soon, as it is anchored in legal battles, privatized prison industry, a surplus of lawyers and a justice system that needs as many clients and victims as possible. Canada, though, has a more open vision and there the cannabis is soon to be decriminalized. Former Prime Minister Joe Clark, now leader of the opposition conservatives, is all for it, just like the Canadian Bar Association, The Royal Mounted Police and more. It is estimated that 150.000 people harvest 4 billion dollars a year from the marijuana trade from Canada to strict anti-dope USA. Plans are drawn up to open coffee shops, Holland style, along the border, proffering high-quality weed to go in vacuum sealed bags.

Jamaica has been told by a spokesperson from the American embassy that the USA is not happy with the local ideas to legalize pot. The European reality is likely to have more influence on Jamaica then the United States prison policy- Respect for personal freedom seems to be non existent in the USA. As the drug trade is now in the hands of criminal drug syndicates and the legalizing will take it away from them, it is the criminals that scream foul. They will see their livelihood go in no time when the governments take over supplying citizens legally priced quality weed. One wonders why the USA holds on the invincible struggle, refusing its people the substance that they ask for. As the demand for drugs is there, nothing will stop it from coming.

Smart governments take the drug trade in their own hands, warnings, taxes, controls and all. When will the Executive Council condone the use of cannabis officially on St. Maarten, as it has done with prostitution, so that locals and visitors can smoke their spliff in the knowledge that they are no part of the crime, American style here on Holiday Island?

Friendly Island, friendly people, friendly laws. Isn't that what the tourists come for?

The USA in recession, the Euro is gaining power; European politics are showing the world that Holland’s example of 25 years of tolerance was the right way to go. Now we wait to see when our politicians admit that they are informed and act in harmony with modern times.

Canada legalizes medical marijuana it was in the 1920s that the United States declared several herbs illegal. After the experiment to ban alcoholic beverages, which turned out a fiasco, they banned other pleasurable substances. Which also has become a total disaster.

The drugs that made Sherlock Holmes the most celebrated detective of literature, administered by his faithful doctor Watson at the start of each of his brilliant stories, have become the source of the justice system. The French writer Baudelaire wrote his famous books under the influence of marijuana and that herb too, came on the list of forbidden fruits. To no avail, as marijuana is still the most popular herb used by people in all countries of the world. That nicotine, in the form of cigarettes and cigars stayed legalized until recently the greatest criminal act that the United States committed towards its own and the rest of the world population. The nicotine is so habit forming that after a few cigarettes the user is hooked  for life. Serious illnesses, cancer and other respiratory dements result.

Today, 6th of July 2001 Canada has legalized medical marijuana. Especially to alleviate the ill effects of the sicknesses that result from the legal poison nicotine. Ironic but true, one has to be terminally ill to legally use the herb marijuana. Holland has understood for over twenty years now that marijuana is not a dangerous drug. Like coffee and tea it is labeled soft and less dangerous than the legal substance sugar, which lands more people in hospital than the three herbs marijuana, tea and coffee together. Switzerland has recently also legalized the use of marijuana and England is the latest civilized country that no longer arrests and prosecutes the users. The famous Bob Marley smoked it openly and the Rastafarians use it with the excuse that it is part of the religious experience. The Bible has no bad word about it, still, most countries not woken up to the truth about the herb. Sint Maarten should educate its people on the subject so that it may free itself from the hysterical witch— hunt that takes place in the United States and France against perfectly honest hard working, taxpaying people that like to relax after work with a spliff and good music. One should not have to be sick first in order to enjoy Gods given herb, to first drink alcohol and smoke nicotine in order to become sick enough to benefit from the herb marijuana. The lawmakers in the primitive times 80 years ago did not check what they were doing and they made millions of people suffer, up to today. It is time the example of Holland, Switzerland and England and Canada is followed by our own lawmakers

Those that have their ears close to the ground may have heard the latest on the subject of cannabis, marijuana. In good old England the police does no longer arrest and prosecute individuals who are in possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use. A National debate is on the agenda of government in order to make it legal. And out of the blue came the news that Portugal has all at once legalized the use of Cannabis, and more surprisingly the use of all other recreational drugs as well. Ecstasy, cocaine and heroin, all legalized for personal use. The reason for this decision given by the Portuguese spokesman was that the zero-tolerance policy did not work. Clear case. As Portugal has enormous many English tourists, it might have been afraid to lose those when England legalized cannabis before Portugal did so. Looking back we see: Holland, Switzerland, England and Portugal having decriminalized people who use some or other substance to relax and enjoy, besides alcohol and the killerweed tobacco. Whose next? What if Sint Maarten decriminalizes the use of Cannabis? Would the good people that now have to smoke their spliff in the closet for fear of the law not flock to our beaches, restaurants and hotels? Of course they would. And they are not only poor people that find solace by the herb cannabis, far from it, history tells of kings and princes that used the herb. The Indian Godhead Shiva is directly associated with the benevolent properties of the herb cannabis. I hereby call on all readers, to please write to this newspapers opinion editor and let him know your point of view on the subject. If you are for or against, let yourself know, sign as you like, your name doesn’t have to be known if you don't want. Seeing the great economical potential, and the changing laws in Europe, it is obvious that Sint Maarten could take the one chance in a lifetime and be the first Caribbean country that is in line with the modern world. Educate drugs, make them harmless by knowing them, it is the only way to make our society more healthy and honest.