Commissioner Claims Crime In Polynesia Linked To Marijuana

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Jon Rawlinson/The Global Digital

​Reefer madness is alive and well in the South Pacific. The French high commissioner in French Polynesia has announced that “a large part” of the crime in the island territory is “linked to marijuana.”
That’s right, folks. Never mind alcohol or other drugs, it’s that damn wacky weed that’s making ’em crazy — at least, if we’re talking about government officials.
High Commissioner Richard Didier (who should really try living up to his title), made the comments as authorities revealed that last year 67,000 cannabis plants were dug up and seized by law enforcement authorities, reports Radio New Zealand International.

Didier claimed many patients in Polynesia’s psychiatric wards are there “because of drugs-related issues.”
Colonel Valentini, the head of the local gendarmerie, claimed “drugs are found everywhere in French Polynesian society” and “in a way not seen in France” (does that mean they don’t enjoy wine with them?)
Last June, an independent member of French Polynesia’s assembly called for marijuana to be decriminalized. Sabrina Birk said alcohol has been proven to be far more damaging to health and society, and she said she can’t see why the same regulations can’t be applied to cannabis, reported RNZI at the time.
“In one hand they let alcohol be sold and it is completely destructive in our country and on the other hand they have made marijuana illegal and the only reason of this that I have been able to find is for economic reasons — alcohol you can tax more easier than marijuana,” she said.
According to Birk, French Polynesia’s dropout rate is 75 percent, and many of those young people become addicted to alcohol.
Although the territory’s prison is already overcrowded, judges vowed to continue enforcing the marijuana laws.
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