A few excerpts from Mr Strachan’s provocative commentary:
We in The Bahamas, given our proximity, have been especially fortunate, in most ways, where the U.S.A. is concerned. It is no exaggeration to say that our lives depend upon a close and friendly relationship with the world’s leading nation, our next door neighbor. We import our food, receive most of our visitors, and educate thousands of our children, in the U.S. I am a perfect example of just how true it is that America is a “land of opportunity.”
A country as big and strong as America will help the world when it gets things right and it will hurt the world when it gets things wrong. The War on Drugs is one of the things America has gotten dead wrong and because of it so many people have wound up dead or in prison, especially people who look like me or live in countries like mine. Instead of saying no to drugs, the U.S. should say OK to drugs. I know, that sounds crazy. But I’m just trying to find a catchy, succinct way to say what some other very thoughtful people, leaders in fact, have said in a recent United Nations report.
Now, I know what many of you must be thinking. You’re telling us to legalize drugs, Strachan? You been smoking some of that stuff yourself, hey? Then you trot out the slippery slope arguments. Legalize marijuana and you create a nation of potheads. If that were true, we would also have a nation of alcoholics (don’t exaggerate). We have many, yes, but imagine if beer were illegal. Imagine the absurd criminality and violence that would ensue and the greater fascination with “the drug” because it would be taboo. Do I believe we need to better regulate the sale of alcohol in The Bahamas? Absolutely. Should we make it illegal or cigarettes illegal? Absolutely not.
