Why legalizing Cannabis won't work in the Philippines

(Image grabbed from http://harryallen.info/.)

Filipino supporters of Cannabis Legalization abroad have thought it to localize their "noble cause" and educate the homeland of the positive side of "natural" high. With due right, of course; everyone is entitled to their own opinion. There are however certain physical realities that are inescapable in a Philippine context. I will tell you 8:

Collectivism.

Unlike our western counterparts, ALL of Southeast Asia embrace collectivist traditions. While it is creepy for an American or European to be married and still live with their parents at 40, for example, in this part of the world it's actually admirable. Truly, it is! In the Philippines, the closer you bring the family together, the better. But what does this have to do with Cannabis usage anyway?

See, the thing is, directly opposing individualism, people in a collectivist society make decisions with an a priori knowledge that other people are expectant. We give equal priority to how our family and friends would react to a decision as much as it is our own. When most still consider Marijuana as a social taboo then it will be thusly. Public acceptance (and I mean from everybody) of any notion of sort is always the greatest determinant.

I suppose you can say no one is too liberated in the Philippines, unless he is not a Filipino or likes to believe he is yet does not practice what'd IDENTIFY him as one: Norm and Collectivist Moral Traditions.

Religion.

High religiosity among Filipinos, especially among older generations, is a marked trait. In fact we derive most of our conservative stand from religious authorities, indeed at times even our presidential bet. The point is, whatever religious authorities disapprove of, so are the people likely. The same goes with the politicians who, in most cases, are really just puppets to the populace. And we all know religious fractions would never even consider supporting to legalize what they still consider "immoral".

Misleading facts.

Pros point to innumerable scientific and statistical finds, yet the focal ones lack completion.

For example: The low crime-rate of Cannabis use in the Philippines is true. But only because Marijuana is ILLEGAL and not many people have used it.

Here's another one: The pros believe that it is impossible for any society today to take legalization so badly because the whole world once upon a time did. This is partly correct. But to complete the statement: It was made illegal by governments in the twentieth century for the plain and simple fact that it was bad for society. And no, I'm not talking about health--governments at the time wouldn't have known--rather the implications in behavior.

In any case, it would seem the pros, in their efforts to sugarcoat some positives, have overlooked some vital truths.

Urgency.

In a Philippine context, where the majority are poor and economies are still developing, urgency is everything. Seriously, from a Filipino to a foreigner, getting all our homeboys high on drugs is the first thing we need for an apocalypse!

Hypocrisy.

A famous line from the pros goes like this: "We're potheads, not criminals!"

Now, most of their contention revolve strategically around the health benefits of Cannabis. Which is true; It does have health benefits! The problem is that some pros in "Legalizing" it plan to do so by smoking (alas, the brand pothead). It becomes insincere, therefore, when they cite for medicinal gains when clearly inhaling smoke of whichever kind is ALWAYS bad for your health.

Mismatching ideals, more often than convince, make the cons question the earnestness of the so-called potheads, insofar as health and medicine are inseparable.

Side-effects.

Another misleading fact is when pros push the idea that Cannabis won't elicit a side-effect. False! The one side-effect that's made it a favorite for law-enforcement is the same thing why people want to use it: "high". High is a negative side-effect. Obviously.

High impairs cognitive functions, judgments. But unlike drunkenness, high via Marijuana is cheaper and easier to attain, and, accordingly, easier to abuse.

In a Philippine setting, people high on anything are easily regarded as delinquent, by courtesy of Social Stigma. Again, Filipinos' collectivist views easily place high on the Dont's list.

Range.

Education is the main cry of the pros: If people are learned they'd rid themselves of stereotypes. Question: How? How on earth are you going to educate a fiercely conservative lot to do something they've always thought of as evil. So they'd know of the latest findings, what then?

The range, timing, probability, and relevance of legalizing Cannabis to the Filipino people are all highly misplaced.

Utopian appeal.

Some pros invite us to "imagine" possibilities if Marijuana use is decriminalized. Benefits ranging from generating more jobs and revenues on farms to making clothes and houses out of hemp, a "by-product", although are probable make it seem as if it would solve all the problems of the country. Indeed, some pros even claim it to cure cancer!

This Utopian appeal easily transcends reality and present-day situations. In some instances, facts. It's like telling people to buy bottled water so they could keep the bottles and use it to build a Christmas Tree. It's a nice thought yet so ridiculous no one would possibly do it for that single purpose alone.

Simply: Legalizing Cannabis just wouldn't inherit in a Philippine context. At least not at the time. Obviously. If it could, it had.