It must be stated without any fear of contradiction that using marijuana in any form at all in Ghana is illegal. It is in view of this that the police arrest people who cultivate, sell or use marijuana within the confines of the country. It is against the law to do any of the three.

Sometime last week it was reported in the media that a certain farm in Brong Ahafo was raided by the police to destroy a farm which was used for the cultivation of marijuana and also to arrest those involved in the act.

Just last Tuesday it was reported again that a police officer had been accused of receiving 25 million cedis every month to turn a blind eye to the illegality, so to speak, and he was summoned by his superior for questioning.

Have you noticed my drift so far? I am trying to make the case that anybody who has anything at all to do with the promotion or use of the accursed grass is committing an offence.

If that were the case then I am putting Happy FM presenter Black Rasta on the carpet because he has done more than just promoting the use of marijuana.

I have remained a fan of Black Rasta since his days as the reggae king on Goodnews FM in Takoradi and yet I have felt very uncomfortable over his sometimes-subtle-and-yet-sometimes-blunt support for the use of marijuana.

If I have been uncomfortable for long why am I now talking about it? It is because I think that the confidence with which he has been propagating the use of it has become too huge and what he would couch in the past he cares less what happens after he has said it in no uncertain terms.

I was appalled last Thursday while watching Presenters’ Guide on TV3 and a caller claimed, while talking to Black Rasta, that she felt like smoking marijuana anytime she saw Black Rasta’s hair. To my chagrin he said at the end of the programme that everybody should stop using drugs like cocaine but should “use the herbs”.

I was most grateful to God that another person saw reason to call off that bluff from Black Rasta. Just after he spoke it was the turn of Turbo B to speak and before he would say anything else he said “don’t use the herbs”. I thought that was the most opportune thing to do under the circumstance.

Why I decided to write about what may seem as trivial issue to some is that television, radio and all mass media have powerful influence on people that we may have no idea of and the authority figures that presenters come across as endorsement for younger people.

I do not give two hoots if Black Rasta plants the herbs in his bedroom but I care loads if he gives a blanket endorsement of its use on television. We may have our views on issues and yet if those issues are illegal that is what they remain until there is change in legislation.

Legalities and illegalities aside, some of us could attest to the devastating effect of drugs, whether cocaine or wee(most especially wee because that is what is dominant and affordable to the youth), on people we know and are friends with.

The experts in psychiatry like Dr. Asare, have spoken lengthily about the devastating effects of marijuana and why the youth should stay away from it.

It amazes me therefore that radio presenters like Black Rasta and his ilk would use every opportunity to sing the praise of such a drug and not end there but to go on to urge people to use it.

I thought station managers would be more proactive in dealing with such issues or if they didn’t then the police would also listen and take action.

But if nobody would then I will take it upon myself to tell Black Rasta that if he is a “ganja farmer” he should find where to plant it and not on television or radio.

Listening & Watching With Francis Doku