Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Caribbean Studies SBA
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
Name: Matthew Williams
Form: U6
Centre Number: 100082
Candidate Number: 1000820928
Territory: Jamaica
Teacher: Mrs. Marshall
Theme: Crime in the Caribbean
Topic: An investigation into whether or not the decriminalisation of Marijuana has led to
increased use among Munro College students.
1
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Acknowledgement
The researcher would like to thank God firstly, for the strength and guidance provided in
carrying out this School Based Assessment. Thanks must also be issued to Mrs. Marshall who
guided the process and was instrumental in the completion of this research project. Finally, the
researcher would like to thank his family for their useful insight and suggestions.
2
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Table of Contents
SECTION_____________________________________________________
PAGE(s)
Introduction and Purpose of Research…………………………………
4-6
Literature Review…………………………………………………….…
7-10
Data Collection Sources ……………………………………………….
11-12
Presentation of Data ……………………………………………………
13-18
Analysis of Data ……………………………………………………….
19-21
Discussion of Findings ……………………………………………………
22-24
Conclusions, Limitations and Recommendations ……………………… 25-27
Appendix ………………………………………………………………..
28-32
Bibliography …………………………………………………………….
33-34
3
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Introduction
Statement of Problem/Purpose of Research
“I got reports from two principals today of students feeling that ganja is now free and that
they can now smoke it, and in one case, he [a principal] had to take more than one student to a
nearby hospital for symptoms of psychosis”. This statement by former education minister Ronald
Thwaites captures the essence of the problem facing not just Jamaica but the Caribbean as a
whole. In a Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) Inter-Sessional Heads of
State Summit held in March 2014, a discussion was held on the possibility of the
decriminalisation of Marijuana regionally. The discussion was suggested after a pilot study
found that legalized medical marijuana sales could boost the region’s ailing economies. In the
thrust for economic expansion through marijuana markets, the door has been opened for
marijuana abuse by our children. This issue therefore becomes a regional concern that requires
regional interest.
The title of this study is “An investigation into whether or not the decriminalisation of
Marijuana has led to increased use among Munro College students.” The students of Munro
College may be users of Marijuana and may be unaware as to the Marijuana Decriminalisation
Act and the impact (if it exists) on their learning ability in school. The reality that exists however
makes it very much possible that the students of Munro College may be very knowledgeable in
this area given the fact that students have been caught with varying amounts over the years.
Exposure to the drug may have come about though familial influence as well.
This research is geared toward highlighting the effect marijuana has on a student who
utilizes it as well as the varying causes. This research is being conducted within the ambits of a
confidential examination of the students of Munro College. Marijuana is a widespread issue that
requires intervention as it affects the educational aspirations of our students and their faculties.
4
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
With that said, the researcher will employ varying strategies to lessen the prevalence of
marijuana usage.
The research questions to be answered include: Why are students attracted to Marijuana?
Do students understand what the ‘decriminalisation’ of Marijuana means? What are the forms in
which marijuana is used? How aware are the students as to Dangerous Drugs Act? What impact
does Marijuana usage have on student education?
The results of this study on whether or not the decriminalisation of Marijuana has led to
increased use among Munro College students would be useful to the students of Munro College
who are avid users, in that, key knowledge such as the impact on the learning ability would grant
them some clarity as to the infamous drug’s effects. The study would also enlighten the students
as to the limits and allowances made as per the Dangerous Drugs Act.
The minister of Education could use the information gathered from this study in crafting
anti-marijuana policies that would result in positive student development. Additionally,
government agencies such as the National Council on Drug Abuse could tailor its campaigns to
encompass the varying manners in which Marijuana is ingested instead of merely focusing on
smoking Marijuana.
Definition of Key Terms
1. Marijuana: A strong-smelling plant whose dried leaves can be smoked for a pleasant
effect or pain reduction
2. Decriminalisation: Legislation that makes something legal that was formerly illegal
3. Substance Abuse: This speaks to the excessive use of drugs
4. Pot: This is a street name for Marijuana
5
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
5. Psychosis: Any severe mental disorder in which contact with reality is lost or highly
distorted
6. Ganja: The most commonly used illicit drug; considered a soft drug, it consists of the
dried leaves of the hemp plant; smoked or chewed for euphoric effect.
7. Edibles: Colloquial term for baked products such as cookies, brownies or cakes that are
laced with Marijuana for euphoric effect.
8. Neurocognitive: Pertaining to mental functions that are linked to a particular area,
pathway or network of the brain.
9. Neuropsychology: The study of the relationship between behaviour, emotion, and
cognition on the one hand, and brain function on the other.
6
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Literature Review
In analysing the topic of Marijuana Decriminalisation and the possible increased use amongst the
student populace, many writers have posited their ideas which will be brought to light in this
paper. They have looked at the reason for the attraction to Marijuana by students, the forms in
which marijuana is used and the subsequent impact on learning ability.
A far as the reason for attraction to Marijuana is concerned, Dr. Neil Bernstein, a
practicing clinical psychologist and Raychelle Lohmann, a practicing school counsellor and
acclaimed author, seem to have a few common ideas. Dr.Bernstein lists peer pressure, popular
media, and boredom (Bernstein, 2016) as some of the possible reasons for marijuana attraction.
He posits that in many instances, teens are attracted to Marijuana thanks to the influence of their
peers and their social circle. Raychelle Lohmann concurs on this point as she proceeds to cite a
study conducted by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids Attitude which showed that 49% of the
participants admitted to using Marijuana because of friends. She goes on to state that many
students do this in an effort to either maintain friendships or create new ones. This particular bit
of information is rather interesting as the researcher has noticed that cases involving Marijuana
use at Munro College were mostly group cases.
Popular media has always shaped the views of the masses and unfortunately, according to
Dr.Bernstein, it has pushed many teens into Marijuana usage. In order to prove his point he made
reference to a study (PATS 2012) that showed that forty-five percent of teens agree with the
statement: “The music that teens listen to makes marijuana seem cool.” And 45 percent of teens
agree with the statement “Movies and TV shows make drugs seem like an ok thing to do.”
Raychelle Lohmann seems to agree (Lohmann, 2018) when she says, “With a society that
promotes a climate of pro-legalization, teens are receiving a mixed message about marijuana…
One search of the Internet can quickly land a teen on a site promoting and justifying the use of
marijuana. Unfortunately, teens are beginning to think it’s not all that dangerous, which can lead
to a path of experimentation.” Within the confines of Munro College there has consistently been
a widely held belief over the years that Marijuana isn’t harmful which has led many to try the
drug.
7
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Boredom surprisingly allows for Marijuana usage and is considered by both professionals
as a reason for the attractiveness of Marijuana. Dr.Bernstein notes that teens who can’t tolerate
being alone, have trouble keeping themselves occupied or crave excitement are prime candidates
for substance use (Bernstein 2016). Marijuana, he says, helps to “fill the internal void they feel”.
He goes on to state that this provides a common ground for interacting with like-minded teens.
Raychelle Lohmann in her article made reference to a study (American Journal of Drug and
Alcohol Abuse) which showed that one third of teens reported using Marijuana to cope with
boredom. She goes on to highlight the fact that Marijuana usage is a very dangerous pastime.
Many students at Munro College do cite issues with boredom as a reason for marijuana use.
There has been a radical shift in the way in which Marijuana is used. The common
method of smoking Marijuana is no longer the only way to ‘get high’. The National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) have both published articles
detailing the various forms in which Marijuana is used in order to get ‘high’.
In the article by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, (NIDA, 2013) it highlights the fact
that most people smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints; in pipes, water pipes
(sometimes called bongs), or in blunts (marijuana rolled in cigar wraps). The article goes on to
state that Marijuana is frequently mixed into foods (edibles) such as brownies, cookies, or
candies. Vaporizers are also increasingly used to consume marijuana. Stronger forms of
marijuana include sinsemilla (from specially tended female plants) and concentrated resins
containing high doses of marijuana’s active ingredients, including honeylike hash oil, waxy
budder, and hard amberlike shatter. The article briefly mentions the fact that the key ingredient
that causes delusions and ‘psychosis’ is termed delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short.
The article penned by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation is a bit more detailed however as the
article mentions the fact that Marijuana is used either through smoking or eating (Alcohol and
Drug Foundation, 2014). The article goes on to state that while the most common method of
using Marijuana is through smoking in a joint or gong, others have taken extreme approaches to
usage. Hash oil is highly concentrated THC which is applied to the tips of blunts or whatever
material is being smoked in order to provide a stronger ‘high’. The article, unlike that penned by
the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains the way in which Marijuana is mixed into foods. It
states that the form of Marijuana is termed ‘Hashish’ and it is the dried plant resin that is usually
8
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
mixed with tobacco and smoked or added to foods and baked; such as cookies and brownies.
This therefore brings to light the fact that there is a radical change in the form in which
Marijuana is being used. In the Jamaican context this means that smoking isn’t the only way in
which it is used which therefore means that the scope of screening will have to be widened. It
also reflects an upgrade in research as previously, the form in which Marijuana is used would be
limited to simply smoking.
The impact Marijuana has on learning ability has long been a matter of contention among
the masses but amongst the professionals in health, the answer is pretty clear. Dr. Amelia Aria
from the University of Maryland School of Public Health and Robert Du Pont, MD both have
similar views on the issue
In Dr.Arria’s 2016 article published in ‘Biological Psychiatry’ she highlights the fact that the
Marijuana being used today is much stronger than that of the past and as such the increase in
potency poses a higher risk for negative consequences in the sphere of learning (Arria, 2016).
Her article breaks the impact into two main categories; the impact on memory and attention.
As far as memory is concerned, Dr.Arria noted that memory function has been the most
consistently impaired domain impaired by cannabis and she also states that “…studies from the
past 10 years continue to extend the evidence base.” Interestingly, within her article she
highlights the fact that impaired memory, which is key to the learning process has been observed
mostly in adolescents who use Marijuana heavily and even those who use it occasionally (Arria,
2016). She capitulates this by stating that long term users appear to be more affected than short
term users as far as memory is concerned.
Impaired attention according to Dr.Arria has long been a hallmark of the intoxicating effects of
Marijuana. As a matter of fact, she noted that several recent studies report impairment in an
adolescent even after not using Marijuana for thirty days. This is particularly troubling in our
school context as quite a lot of material can be covered and lost in thirty days. That therefore
means that the lack of attention could result in users failing and possibly dropping out of school.
Dr. Arria and Robert Du Pont, MD discussed the relationship between academics and marijuana.
They both held that Marijuana use negatively influences academic results by lowering the GPA
and those students have higher rates of dropout than students who drink alcohol (Du pont, Arria,
9
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
2012). The authors speculate that this might be due to differences in the patterns of consumption
between alcohol which is typically consumed on weekends and marijuana which is consumed
throughout the week among adolescents. In addition, studies show that in recent years, as
perceived risk of harm from marijuana has declined, marijuana use among youth has increased.
10
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Data Collection Sources
Primary and Secondary data collection sources were used during the course of this research. The
primary source of data was in the form of a questionnaire and speaks to that which was collected
by the researcher himself. A questionnaire was used as it allows for easy analysis and collation
of data. Also, a questionnaire is easy to administer, especially with the use of Google Forms, and
it is easy to quantify. Close ended questions were used. These types of questions are limited to
specific responses. Close ended questions also going through the questionnaire easier and
streamlined the responses in order to keep the data in line with the research focus. Secondary
sources were also utilized, that is, information that has already been produced by other people.
This data was analysed and interpreted and was valuable in this research. The authors were
Dr.Neil Bernstein, Raychelle Lohmann, The National Institute on Drug Abuse, The Alcohol and
Drug Foundation, Dr. Amelia Aria and Dr. Robert Du Pont. Dr. Bernstein is a practicing clinical
psychologist who has been in his profession for over forty years. His article provided
information that showed the root cause of marijuana attraction among teens. Rachelle Lohmann
is a practicing school counsellor and acclaimed author who has written several articles on the
dangers of Marijuana and the root causes of Marijuana abuse. The National Institute on Drug
Abuse is an American star run facility that has been supplying the world with research on
Marijuana for over 30 years. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation is a privately owned company
that carries out research on Marijuana and was instrumental in showing the various forms on
which Marijuana is used. The ADF has been releasing credible, state used information for 23
years. Dr. Amelia Aria is from the Maryland School of Public health and has penned articles for
the renowned, peer reviewed ‘Biological Psychiatry’ for over ten years. Her information was
valuable as she showed the direct link between marijuana use and memory issues. Dr. Robert Du
Pont is a registered Medical Doctor who has spent much of his life looking at the correlation
between Marijuana and academics. He has had his writings published in the ‘Biological
Psychiatry’ for many years and has been a medical doctor for 30 years
11
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
The researcher employed the method of Stratified Sampling. This method is a probability
technique where the researcher divides the entire population being studied into sub groups
(effectively termed strata) and then randomly selects the final candidates from the different sub
groups. This allowed for a balanced view of the population and gave each person a fair chance of
being selected. The sub groups were the various forms at Munro College (1st to upper 6th) and a
total of five persons were randomly selected from each sub group. The total number of
respondents was 35.
12
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Presentation of Data
The Age Groups of the Munro College
Students
Eleven-Thirteen
0%
17%
Fourteen-Sixteen
Seventeen-Nineteen
23%
60%
Twenty-Twenty One
Figure 1.0 shows the age range of the respondents at Munro College.
Awareness Level of the Respondents in
Regards to the Dangerous Drugs Act
34%
Yes
No
66%
Figure 1.1 shows just how aware the respondents are as to the Dangerous Drugs Act
13
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Have you ever used Marijuana?
Have you ever used Marijuana?
NO
20
YES
15
0
5
10
15
20
25
Fig 1.2 shows the percentage of those who use Marijuana
What form of Marijuana do you use mainly?
0%
Hash Oil
49%
51%
Edible
Blunt
Other
Fig 1.3 shows the form in which Marijuana is used mainly by the respondent
14
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
When do you use Marijuana?
14%
9%
Schooldays
Weekends
37%
40%
Holidays
Everyday
Fig 1.4 shows the times in which the respondents engage in Marijuana use
15
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
After realizing that the law allows you to use
two ounces or less how did you feel?
6%
17%
Emboldened to use Marijuana
Slightly Emboldened
54%
Strongly Averse to using Marijuana
23%
Slightly averse to using Marijuana
Fig 1.6 shows just how emboldened the respondents were in marijuana usage after
realizing the ambits of the law.
ON A SCALE OF 1-10 HOW DANGEROUS DO YOU
THINK MARIJUANA IS, WITH 1 BEING SAFE AND 10
VERY DANGEROUS?
One to three
Four to six
Seven to eight
Nine to ten
14%
46%
26%
14%
Fig 1.7 shows the respondents view of the danger level of Marijuana
16
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
How often do you use marijuana per week?
14
13
12
12
8.2
10
8
6
5
How often do you use marijuana
per week?
4
2
2
0
1 TO 2
TIMES
3-4
TIMES
5-6
TIMES
7-8
TIMES
NONE AT
ALL
Fig 1.8 shows how often the respondents use Marijuana.
Which method is best suited to decrease
Marijuana use among students?
. Seminars to educate adolescents
about the dangers of Marijuana
11%
29%
34%
26%
Amend the Dangerous Drugs Act to
limit use to those 18 years and older
Have students who are caught using
Marijuana go through counselling
Revert to our old system and outlaw
Marijuana completely
Fig 1.9 shows respondents’ views as to the best method to reduce Marijuana usage
among students.
17
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
What impact does Marijuana have on your
educational pursuits (if you are a user?)
14
12
10
8
6
10
4
2
0
I AM FAILING
12
7
6
IT HAS NO
IMPACT
MY GRADES
HAVE FALLEN
BUT NOT TO
THE POINT OF
FAILURE
What impact does Marijuana have
on your educational pursuits (if you
are a user?)
IT HAS BOOSTED
MY
PERFORMANCE
Fig 2.0 shows the impact marijuana has had on the respondents’ education
If you do use Marijuana, why do you do so
23%
It helps me to escape my problems
46%
3%
My friends use it
My family members use it
28%
It makes me happy
Fig 2.1 shows the reason for the respondents’ use of marijuana
18
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Analysis of Data
Figure 1.0 illustrates the different age groups of the Munro College students. The age groups
include: seventeen to nineteen, which was the age of most of the respondents (60%). The age
group fourteen to sixteen was the second highest with twenty three percent (23%) of the
respondents being this age. Seventeen percent (17%) were within the eleven to thirteen age
group and none of the respondents were in the twenty to twenty-one age group. This is
particularly interesting as it therefore means that the information gathered will be from the
formative years (11-13) straight through to that of an adult (17-19) thus presenting a holistic
view of marijuana usage. This coupled with Figure 1.1 showed the respondents awareness level
of the dangerous Drugs Act, also known colloquially as the ‘Ganja Law’. Interestingly, sixty-six
percent (66%) were aware of the Act while thirty-four percent (34%) were unaware of it. This
means that most of the respondents are actually cognizant of the fact that there is a bit of
legislation governing Marijuana usage and thus creating ambits for citizens to operate within.
Figure 1.2 showed the percentage of those who have used Marijuana with fifty-seven percent
(57%) saying no and forty-three percent (43%) saying yes. This therefore means that most of the
respondents were not Marijuana users. Additionally, Fig 1.3 illustrated the form in which
Marijuana is used by the respondents. Fifty one percent (51%) used what is termed ‘edibles’
while forty-nine percent (49%) utilized the method of blunts. This is a radical shift from the
traditional method of blunts and highlights the fact that there is a shift in Jamaican society.
Fig 1.4 shows the time in which students engage in in the usage of Marijuana. Forty percent
(40%) stated that they used Marijuana on holidays, thirty-seven percent (37%) said weekends,
fourteen percent (14%) said every day and nine percent (9%) said schooldays. This means that
most of the respondents engage in such use in their holiday period, often marked as the time
when they have freedom for school. Interestingly, only a few of the respondents admitted to
using Marijuana on schooldays. Fig 2.0 showed the impact Marijuana has on the education of the
respondents. Thirty-four percent (34%) stated their grades had fallen but not to the point of
19
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
failure. Twenty-nine percent (29%) stated flat out that they were in fact failing while twenty
percent (20%) said that it had no effect on their performance. A surprising seventeen percent
(17%) believed that the usage of marijuana had actually boosted their performance. This
therefore means that majority of the respondents felt that marijuana had negatively influenced
their educational pursuits which is quite concerning. Interestingly Fig 2.1 illustrated the reason
for the respondents’ use of Marijuana. Forty six percent (46%) believed that it helped them to
escape their problems while twenty-eight percent (28%) cited the fact that their friends engage in
Marijuana usage and as such they themselves use it as well. Twenty three percent (23%) said that
they use Marijuana because it makes them happy while three percent (3%) stated that they
engage in use as a result of their family members. Strangely, majority of the respondents
believed that marijuana helped them to escape their problems which highlights that there are very
difficult situations that exist in the lives of our teens that forces them to use Marijuana as a
means of escape.
Fig 1.6 showed just how emboldened the respondents were after realizing the ambits of the law
so far as marijuana usage is concerned. Disturbingly, fifty-four percent (54%) stated that they
were emboldened to use Marijuana, twenty-three percent (23%) said that they were slightly
emboldened, seventeen percent (17%) said that they were strongly averse to using Marijuana
after discovering the ambits of the Law while a measly six percent (6%) said that they were
slightly averse to using Marijuana after realizing the ambits of the Law, particularly the section
on using two ounces or less. This statistic indicates that the respondents viewed the Dangerous
Drugs act, particularly the amendment that made allowances for two ounces or less, as a catalyst
for their increased Marijuana usage. This flowed right into Fig 1.7 which showed the respondents
view of the danger level of Marijuana with one (1) being safe and ten (10) very dangerous.
Forty-six percent (46%) selected the option one to three (1-3), fourteen percent (14%) selected
four to six (4-6), another fourteen percent (14%) selected nine to ten (9-10) while twenty six
percent (26%) selected seven to eight (7-8). t/his highlights the fact that majority of the
respondents see no harm really in Marijuana as forty-six percent (46%) selected option one to
three (1-3). Additionally, Fig 1.8 illustrated just how often the respondents used marijuana, if at
all. Twenty percent (20%) stated that they used it one to two (1-2) times per week, thirty percent
(30%) said three to four (3-4) times per week, thirteen percent (13%) said five to six (5-6) times
per week, five percent (5%) said seven to eight times (7-8) per week and thirty two percent
20
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
(32%) said none at all. This illustration shows that most of the respondents do not use marijuana
at all but the close second, standing at thirty percent (30%) showed that they use Marijuana at
least three to four (3-4) times per week. That in and of itself speaks to a good portion of the week
and also highlights a concerning usage pattern.
Fig. 1.9 showed the respondents’ views as to the best measure to reduce marijuana usage among
students. Thirty-four percent (34%) stated that counselling sessions should be created to have
cater to students who are user of marijuana. Twenty-nine percent (29%) were in favour of having
seminars to educate adolescents about the dangers of marijuana. Twenty-six percent (26%) were
in favour of amending the Dangerous Drugs Act to limit the use of Marijuana to those 18 years
and older. Eleven percent (11%) believed that we should simply revert to our old system and
outlaw marijuana completely. The fact that majority of the respondents viewed counselling
sessions as most apt to deal with marijuana users in schools shows a shift from the radical view
that marijuana should just be outlawed by the law completely and it also gives some credence to
the concept of counselling. Seminars were the second favourite and as such that should also be
considered as a possible fix for our current problem.
21
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Discussion of Findings
The study conducted revealed some interesting findings. Firstly, fig 1.0 identified that majority
of the users were from the age group seventeen to nineteen (60%) and this ties in with most of
the articles covered by the various writers in the literature review as the majority of the focus
was on teenagers. Paramount to that however was the fact that fig 1.3 was synonymous with the
information posited by the National Institute on Drug abuse in that marijuana is frequently being
mixed into food, effectively termed edibles. In the aforementioned fig 1.3 fifty-one percent
(51%) admitted to using edibles while forty-nine percent (49%) stated that they used blunts
which was synonymous with the National Institute on Drug Abuse which stated that most people
used blunts. Despite this however, in the Jamaican context the introduction of edibles is what
many would term a ‘paradigm shift’ due to the long-held belief that marijuana was typically used
in the form of blunts.
As far as the role of the media is concerned, Dr.Bernstein believed that the media has pushed
many teens into Marijuana usage and clinical psychologist Raychelle Lohmann concurred with
him. Evidently, their beliefs seem to be the same as that of the respondents who believed that the
media has made Marijuana seem like a harmless drug (62%). This is quite concerning as it could
be a major factor pushing students to engage in Marijuana use. That therefore means that thanks
to the media, the trickle-down effect is that of low academic performance, high dropout rates and
the like.
The Dangerous Drugs Act was recently amended and the researcher was curious as to whether or
not the decriminalisation of Marijuana had led to increased use. Shockingly, fifty-four percent of
the respondents were emboldened to use Marijuana after discovering the amendments to the
aforementioned Act. Therefore, the decriminalisation of marijuana, while it has made allowances
for religious groups and the like, has opened the door for substance abuse by students. As a
matter of fact, in fig 1.8 it was discovered that thirty percent of the students felt that as much as
thirty percent (30%) of the respondents used marijuana three to four times (3-4) per week.
22
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
A major problem identified by Raychelle Lohmann was that of students being oblivious to the
dangers of marijuana. She actually says, “Unfortunately, teens are beginning to think it’s not all
that dangerous, which can lead to a path of experimentation.” In fig 1.7 it was discovered that
majority of the respondents saw little to no harm in Marijuana (46%). This is particularly
concerning as this lack of knowledge could lead to many severely hurting themselves and putting
themselves at risk of becoming high school drop outs.
The impact on learning ability was also a major point in the articles by Dr.Arria and Dr.Du Pont.
They both held that Marijuana use negatively influences academic results by lowering the GPA
and those students have higher rates of dropout than students who drink alcohol. Interestingly, in
fig 2.0 majority of the respondents (34%0 believed that marijuana had actually caused a
reduction in their grades which means that our students who engage in marijuana usage are not
operating at optimum level. With that said there is a direct correlation between the writings of
Dr.Arria and Dr.Du Pont.
Additionally, the reason for using marijuana is necessary to understanding our students.
Dr.Bernstein lists peer pressure, one of the possible reasons for marijuana attraction. He posits
that in many instances, teens are attracted to Marijuana thanks to the influence of their peers and
their social circle. Raychelle Lohmann concurs on this point as she proceeds to cite a study
conducted by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids Attitude which showed that 49% of the
participants admitted to using Marijuana because of friends. She goes on to state that many
students do this in an effort to either maintain friendships or create new ones. This particular bit
of information is rather interesting as the researcher noted that based on fig 2.1 only twenty eight
percent of the respondents cited the influence of their friends as a reason. Surprisingly, forty-six
percent cited the need to escape from their problems, something that neither Raychelle Lohmann
nor Dr.Bernstein cited in their respective studies. As such more research clearly needs to be
conducted to discover the varying issues of the average teen that would cause them to engage in
marijuana usage.
Finally, as far as solutions to the problem being faced are concerned (fig 1.9), most of the
respondents (34%) were in favour of counselling sessions while a close second was that of
seminars to educate the youth about the dangers of marijuana (29%). These solutions may be the
key to actually reducing marijuana usage as the researcher has noted that within the Jamaican
23
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
context not much time is spent educating the youth on the dangers of marijuana in a
comprehensive manner. Additionally, counselling sessions may be a good way of getting into the
psyche of our marijuana abusing students and thus crafting the right methods to reduce such
usage.
24
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Conclusions
The researcher has quite clearly established that Marijuana usage is clearly a problem that
requires concern and has firmly established the reasons for marijuana usage, the impact it has on
the learning ability and the change in the traditional form in which it is used.
To begin with, the reasons for marijuana usage are peer pressure, popular media and boredom.
However, the research carried out by the researcher discovered that another reason for marijuana
usage is that of the need to escape from varying problems and the researcher was able to
conclude that more research needs to be done in this area. There was also the fact that many of
the respondents felt emboldened to use marijuana after marijuana was ‘decriminalised’. While
the researcher understands the need to allow for religious expression and the need to move with
the world towards marijuana as a profitable industry, much thought must be given to the ripple
effect it could have on our very impressionable teenagers. As far as peer pressure is concerned,
the researcher was able to see the direct correlation between the work of professionals and his
own research as many of the respondents cited peer pressure as a reason for using marijuana. In
addition to this, the major problem of the impact was confirmed through the work of
professionals and through the researcher’s own research which showed that many of the
respondents felt that the use of marijuana negatively impacted their educational pursuits.
Despite all of this however, all hope isn’t lost as the solutions of counselling and seminars as
proposed by the respondents seems to be the way forward. Counselling allows for targeted focus
sessions which will inevitably get to the root of the problem at hand thus allowing the counsellor
to implement a program to further help the affected student. Seminars target larger groups and
allow for exposure to the varying dangerous elements of marijuana usage.
To conclude, the researcher can say without uncertainty that the decriminalisation of marijuana
has in fact led to increased use but it is also coupled with varying factors that need to be
addressed as well. These varying factors can be addressed through the solutions proffered.
25
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Limitations
During the process of carrying out this research the researcher came upon ‘stumbling
blocks’ that may have affected the research.
Firstly, some of the prospective participants were unable to complete the research as a result of
the fact that it was digitized and required internet access to complete. Also, many of the
prospects were afraid to complete the questionnaire because of the fact that they were afraid of
getting into trouble should the results ever be discovered. Additionally, the reliability of the
answers could be called into question as honesty cannot necessarily be measured. Finally, the
researcher had great difficulty in creating the form on google forms and as such spent a great
deal of time making changes
26
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Recommendations
At the end of this paper one can clearly conclude that marijuana usage is a major problem. As
such the researcher has some recommendations that could help to alleviate this major problem.
Firstly, the researcher recommends a widescale mentorship programme across the country that
will target those students who have been caught using marijuana thus creating that foundation for
growth and a shift from marijuana into more positive things.
Secondly, the researcher would recommend that seminars be held more frequently across all
schools in the island to educate students as to the dangers of marijuana and the possible impact it
could have on their educational pursuits.
Lastly, the researcher would suggest that those who have been found using marijuana be placed
in mandatory counselling sessions that are thorough and provide for the varying needs of each
and every affected student.
To conclude, these recommendations have the capability to topple the monumental problem of
marijuana usage among students.
27
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Appendices
Questionnaire
This questionnaire is designed to obtain information on the varying issues related to marijuana
usage among students as well as the strategies that can be used to lessen the issue. All
information shared will be kept confidential.
1. How old are you?
A. 11-13
B. 14-16
C. 17-19
D. 20-21
2. How long have you attended Munro College?
A. 1-2 years
B. 3-4 years
C. 5-7 years
3. Are you aware as to what the Dangerous Drugs Act otherwise known as the ‘Ganja Act’
is?
A. Yes
B. No
28
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
4. Have you ever used Marijuana?
A. Yes
B. No
5. What form of Marijuana do you use mainly?
A. Hash Oil
B. Edible
C. Blunt
D. Other
6. When do you use Marijuana?
A. Schooldays
B. Weekends
C. Holidays
D. Everyday
7. How do you feel after having ingested Marijuana?
A. Disoriented
B. No notable effect
C. Euphoric
D. Sick
29
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
8. In which scenario do you prefer to utilize Marijuana if you are a user?
A. Group Marijuana smoking
B. Individual Smoking
C. Smoking at social events
D. Other
9. After realizing that the law allows you to use two ounces or less how did you feel?
A. Emboldened to use Marijuana
B. Strongly averse to using Marijuana
C. Slightly emboldened to use Marijuana
D. Slightly averse to using Marijuana
10. What role do you believe the media has played in Marijuana promotion?
A. The media has made Marijuana seem like a harmless drug
B. The media has put forward a balanced view of marijuana, its advantages and
disadvantages
C. The media has thoroughly bashed Marijuana use
D. The media has not put forward any views on Marijuana
11. Do you believe that Marijuana should be used in schools?
A. I think it should
B. I don’t think it should
C. I am not sure
30
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
12. If you do use Marijuana, why do you do so?
A. It helps me to escape my problems
B. My friends use it
C. My family members use it
D. It makes me happy
13. What impact does Marijuana have on your educational pursuits (if you are a user)?
A. I am failing
B. It has no impact
C. My grades have fallen, but not to the point of failure
D. It has boosted my performance
14. On a scale of 1-10 how dangerous do you think Marijuana is, with 1 being safe and 10
very dangerous?
A. 1-3
B. 4-6
C. 7-8
D. 9-10
15. How often do you use marijuana per week?
A. 1-2 times
B. 3-4 Times
31
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
C. 5-6 Times
D. 7-8 Times
E. None at all
16. Which method listed below is best suited to decrease marijuana use among students?
A. Seminars to educate adolescents about the dangers of Marijuana
B. Amend the Dangerous Drugs Act to limit use to those 18 years and older
C. Have students who are caught using Marijuana go through counselling
D. Revert to our old system and outlaw Marijuana completely
32
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
Bibliography
Dr.Neil Bernstein, N.B. (2016). Partnership for Drug-Free Kids - Where Families Find Answers.
Retrieved 15 February, 2018, from https://drugfree.org/parent-blog/challenging-the-stonersclassic-chill-defense/
Raychelle Lohmann, R.S. (2018). Five reasons Teens Use Marijuana. Retrieved 15 February,
2018, from https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/5-reasons-teens-use-marijuana/
National institute on drug abuse. (2013). Marijuana Drug Facts. Retrieved 19 February, 2018,
from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
Alcohol and drug foundation, A.D.F. (2014). Cannabis Drug Facts. Retrieved 15 January, 2018,
from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/cannabis/
Powertotheparentorg (2017). Power to the Parent. Retrieved 19 March, 2018, from
http://powertotheparent.org/impact-marijuana-academic-achievement/
Arria, A.A. (2016). Marijuana and Student Learning. Retrieved 19 March, 2018, from
http://www.biologicalpsychiatry/drarria
Du pont, Arria. (2012). Commentary: Recognizing the Contribution of Adolescent Substance Use
to Poor School Performance. Retrieved 5 February, 2018, from https://drugfree.org/learn/drug-
33
Matthew Williams
CARIBBEAN STUDIES SBA
and-alcohol-news/commentary-recognizing-the-contribution-of-adolescent-substance-use-topoor-school-performance/
34