MARIJUANA:
DOES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION EXIST IN BRAZIL?
This
week the decriminalization of marijuana possession for personal use is on the
agenda. The score at the Supreme Court was 8 votes to 3 in favor. Ministers
Alexandre de Moraes, Edson Fachin, Luís Roberto Barroso (president of the
Court), Rosa Weber (who has already retired), Gilmar Mendes, Toffoli and Cármen
Lúcia voted for decriminalization. Cristiano Zanin, André Mendonça and Nunes
Marques voted against.
In
principle, I am against the decriminalization of marijuana and any drug. They
say it's just a plant, but I think marijuana is the door to worse drugs. We
have cases after cases of people who destroyed themselves with drugs, having
started with marijuana, such as the singer Whitney Houston. At age 14, she was
introduced to marijuana by her brother. From then on, she had addiction after
addiction, hospitalization in clinics, family imbalance and the loss of her
voice. And we know the story and the tragic end she had.
Furthermore,
unlike countries like the United States, we do not have authorized stores
selling it. In other words, who will sell? Where are you going to buy
marijuana? Therefore, directly or indirectly, the ‘simple user’ finances
trafficking.
Furthermore,
I was a member of a church in a community in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro
for 25 years. Those who belong to a community church know the social work that
is done with people who use drugs. It's sad to see families destroyed, parents
discouraged because of their child who became addicted. And I can say: a large
part of users want to get rid of their addiction, but they can't.
Despite
this mentioned above, we have to see the context of our country: people use
marijuana and will continue to use it whether it is prohibited or not. The
topic is very complex! We also have to look at the police and prison scenario
in our country. Today, I agree with the release of a certain amount for
personal use. The State arresting a person who is using x grams, a person who
is in private, is surreal. I think the government could release a certain
amount (as is being debated), but making public policies so that people don't
go down this path. There are people who will use it from time to time and will
be content. There are others who will start with marijuana and then, perhaps
due to influence, will start using others.
In
short, the topic is complex and, as usual, in politics we have extremes: on the
one hand, we have a militant left that, in many cases, thinks everything is
normal and that, if it could, would release everything. In other words, they
are trivializing the agenda. “My vote is very clear in the sense that no user,
of any drug, can be criminalized”, stated Toffoli when clarifying his position.
On the other side, we have a pathetic right that pretends to care about society
and that simply does not want to debate this issue, as it is 'totally wrong and
goes against moral principles'. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm almost certain
that soon some parliamentarian will use 'God' and the Holy Bible to say that he
is against the decriminalization of marijuana possession for personal use. What
no one debates is, as I said above, public policies to discourage use. What no
one debates is the creation of clinics to serve users who want to stop using,
but are unable to. What no one puts up for debate is the creation of places to
receive addicted people who live on the streets. But, as always,
parliamentarians are using an important agenda to engage in politicking and
seal it on social media.
Comments:
01.
Many people who call themselves Right Wing claim that Public Universities are
full of drugged people and vehemently defend military education institutions,
saying that everything works in these, that there are no such moral
depravities. Do you really think there are no students from Military
Institutions who use drugs!? This thought is hilarious. I was a student at
EFOMM (Merchant Marine Officer Training School) and I say: there is a lot of
it. Students, at the weekend, went to the dormitory terrace to use marijuana,
in addition to sex. So, don't give me this naivety of thinking that this
doesn't exist in Military Schools, because it does.
02.
I am not an example of a Christian and I am sure of this. But I have found the
position of many Christians on this and other issues very strange. There are
Christians who are simply defending the liberalization of drugs and abortion,
as if it were the most normal thing.
03.
According to the opinion of the majority of the Supreme Court, possession of
marijuana continues to be illegal, but the punishments for users are now
administrative in nature, not criminal.
On
06/26/2024 (Tuesday), in the morning, I posted my opinion on my Instagram and
an acquaintance sent me a message saying that I was prejudiced. After that,
without giving me the Right to Contradictory and Full Defense, he stopped
following me and blocked me.
I
affirm that it is not prejudice! It's just an opinion! It's just a
demonstration of my truth (just as everyone has their own). Each person has a
life, each person has a social, political, cultural and financial context. Each
person has a truth. It is up to us to respect the individuality of each
citizen. But that is not what has happened. Everyone preaches the famous
'freedom of expression', but when someone gives an opinion contrary to what you
think, they are judged, canceled, unfollowed, blocked. There is no longer any
dialogue, no debate. What exists is the attempt to impose your truth on others.
And from the moment you disagree with your colleague’s ‘Divine Truth’, you
become disposable, not worthy of his friendship; you become boring, heretic,
sinful, stupid, moral trash.
In
summary, my social networks look like this:
-
Lulistas unfollowing me, because I criticize Lule's actions!
-
Bolsonaro supporters unfollowing me, because I criticize Bolsonaro's actions!
-
Christians unfollowing me, because I'm a heretic who makes videos of Madonna
singing and dancing and criticizing/questioning leaders, messages!
-
Madonna fans unfollowing me, because, as I criticize Lule, they think I voted
for Bolsonaro!
-
Military and conservative acquaintances unfollowing me, because, as I criticize
Bolsonaro, they think I voted for Lule!
-
Stoners unfollowing me because I posted an opinion contrary to the
trivialization of the agenda!
It's
hard to be outside a bubble! (Or as many say: boring, exempt lol)
Raphael Paiva
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