CiC Ernesto Yeboah of the Economic Fighters League's reflections on the 5th National Cannabis Conference

Yesterday, I had the honour of participating in the 5th National Cannabis Conference of the Rastafari Council.

I was listed as one of the speakers, but I chose not to speak.

Why? Because sometimes wisdom means knowing when to take the microphone, and when to take a seat. The speakers were extraordinarily knowledgeable, grounded, and deeply insightful on the subject. I was happy to gift my speaking time to them and become a student for the day.

As someone deeply concerned with freedom, justice, and livelihoods, I found the discussion impossible to ignore.

Led by Professor Imhotep Alagidede, the conversation moved far beyond sentiment. It dealt seriously with why the abolition of cannabis prohibition is becoming increasingly inevitable, and why many reforms around legalization and decriminalization still reproduce injustice.

What struck me most was that the so-called war on drugs has too often been a war on people, livelihoods, and cultures. Behind every arrest statistic is a young person, a family, and a future interrupted.

The conference also explored the economic possibilities of the plant, especially for youth employment, women’s enterprise, and national revenue generation. You could sense in the room that this was bigger than policy. It was about dignity, opportunity, and ending needless suffering.

No society can arrest its way out of social questions. Evidence, rights, and economic sense must lead the way.

Some days you go to speak. Other days you go to learn. Yesterday, I was grateful to learn, and reminded that behind every bad policy are real people paying the price. I commend the Advocacy Commission of the Rastafari Council for this bold initiative.

CiC Ernesto Yeboah

Economic Fighters League

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