High noon over ‘High Glenhazel’

I’m not qualified to write about cannabis. I have no experience with it, and have never even been tempted to give it a try. It might be because I’m convinced that I’ll be the statistic who falls into a fit of depraved paranoia and never quite recovers from the single puff that ushers me through the gateway of hell into a narcotic nirvana that’s colourful but dangerous. That and the fact that I’m a bit of a nerd, always was. And because I judge people who do.

All this is why I’m so bothered by the opening of a drug store in the heart of Glenhazel.

At first, I thought it was a joke. I received a photo of a building in Glenhazel with a massive Canna Kingdom sign. In case there might be some confusion about the intention of the store, there’s a large poster that reads “High Glenhazel” leaving little doubt as to the goal of this particular kingdom.

Where’s the “drug store”? It’s about 100m from Northview High School, across the road from the Ohr Somayach campus and Shaarei Torah, Mesivta, near Achim, and Yeshiva College, not to mention at least 15 synagogues. It really is an ideal position, if ideal is defined by proximity to neighbourhood youth and adults.

According to Democratic Alliance ward councillor for Ward 72, Daniel Schay, there are no bylaws that govern where a cannabis store might open. As absurd as this might be, whereas there are rightfully controls in terms of the selling of alcohol, cannabis sellers get a free pass. As such, he was at a loss, aside from picketing outside the place, about what residents could do about it.

But picketing is exhausting – and dangerous – given that it’s a busy road.

The use of cannabis is regulated. It can be consumed only in private and by adults. While the use of cannabis for recreational purposes in private is legal, many aspects of producing, processing, storage, possessing, transporting, and selling remain illegal. And where there’s nothing to suggest that anything illegal will occur at the new store, “High Glenhazel” does the venture few favours.

I’m quite certain that cannabis has many medical benefits. My Facebook feed is simply bursting with reports from so-called experts. They explain how cannabis made them live longer, run faster, lose 13kg that they never knew that they had, and sustain long lasting erections. (I made that up.)

Pharmacies also sell medication that assists with health. And whereas they are situated in the neighbourhood, they don’t taunt with promises of “High Glenhazel”. Pharmacies are regulated, audited, and will dispense goods only when they have been furnished with a script written in the doctor’s sweat and signed with their blood. And only then, and after they have written clear instructions – take with water, after hors d’oeuvres, but before mains – warning of the potential side effects suffered by one person in South Korea once.

The arrival of a “drug store” in the neighbourhood is significant and extremely concerning. Drug use has become a real concern for parents and educators, and religious schools aren’t exempt. It’s a serious problem and one that will, no doubt, have repercussions. Where it might be true that cannabis won’t be sold to underage children, it’s also true that older friends routinely assist with this.

It’s also clear, from discussions with people who run addiction centres, that cannabis isn’t only a “gateway drug” but a drug itself.

We can blame the lack of bylaws and we can blame the landlord who should never have let the property in Glenhazel. But if we remain silent about what will follow, the blame for a “High Glenhazel” will be our own.