St. John's, Antigua -- A prominent doctor said he would indeed prescribe medical marijuana to patients if the drug were decriminalised in Antigua & Barbuda.

Sir Prince Ramsey relayed that the positives of medicinal marijuana use outweigh the negatives associated with it -- a position that he has held for the last 12 years.

"It is the misuse of the drug that causes the problem. They misuse the drug by using too much and get addicted and that is the problem," the doctor said in an interview with OBSERVER Media.

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St. John's, Antigua -- Many have come out in support of decriminalising marijuana use in Antigua & Barbuda, but former prison boss Eric Henry said he is yet to be convinced to join the band wagon.

Admitting he lacks the medical expertise to guide his views, he said experience during his years in law enforcement and exposure to many who have been affected by their repeated use of the drug convinces him it should remain a criminal offence here.

"People say there are so many smoking cigarettes that gives you cancer and drinking rum that gives sclerosis of the liver but marijuana has medicinal purposes for glaucoma and asthma," Henry said. "People can say what they like. People take things and turn them to suit their thing. But I am a graduate of the Police Academy in Washington DC in Narco (narcotics) and from the training, let me tell you there are many ups and downs to it and I wouldn't support it."

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St. John's Antigua- An internationally recognized drug policy reform advocate has said Antigua & Barbuda need not fear the wrath of the United States if government chooses to decriminalise small amounts of marijuana.

"What it boils down to is that any country, even a small country like Antigua, can decriminalise and end the criminalisation of (cannabis) possession unilaterally, with virtually no negative feedback from other countries," Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance in New York said in an exclusive interview with OBSERVER Media.

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St. John's Antigua- A move to consider the decriminalisation of small amounts of marijuana in Belize has evoked reaction locally.

Rastafarian elder King Frank-I said Antigua & Barbuda's Rastafarian community, which has been making repeated calls for the drug to be decriminalised, wants authorities here to pattern the Belize model.

The government of Belize is looking into the possibility of allowing small amounts of marijuana possession in an effort to clear up space in the country's overcrowded jails.

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