| And today, one of the members of that National Evangelical Association of Belize, Nazarene Pastor and media personality Luis Wade wore both his hats when he got into the media scrum with Prime Minister Dean Barrow. He wanted to ask some very technical questions about the rationale for legalizing 10 grammes of marijuana. But that's after the PLUS TV cameraman and reporter put in his own testimony about the ills of marijuana use. Here's how that led to a rather awkward back and forth with 7News smack in the middle:
Cirillo Choco, "Marijuana destroyed my life"
"12 years now that I don't smoke no more. I have money, I have my family and I'm moving forward. I had to take myself and rehab myself so that I can come out of this lifestyle of marijuana that's why I want to say, why pass it? Why?"
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"Whatever happened to you is singular. I don't know that you can extrapolate from that…but that's what you believe. If you can point me to the scientific data that supports that then we'd perhaps have an argument."
Louis Wade - Plus TV
"The University of Toronto, just..."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"You know what if we are going to get into a debate..."
Louis Wade - Plus TV
"But you asked him to point out some science. Can I point some science to you, sir?"
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister
"Sir, this is a huge subject on which opinions will be terribly divided. I respect your position. I respect your position, sir. There are very many people I know who smoke marijuana and are not addicted and lead productive lives. But please, I really don't think that we have the time to get into a debate with you."
Louis Wade - Plus TV
"Take the question, but you don't have to answer it."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"No, you want to be able to in effect make a comment and that's fine you have your station but I'm not gonna get into it."
Louis Wade - Plus TV
"Here is the question, alcohol is not measured by the quantity that a person has on him at the time, it is measured by the amount of alcohol content in the blood. According to your legislation, discuss with us the amount of tetra hydro cannabinol or THC content that your legislation provides that's legal. What is the legal limit in the blood for marijuana?"
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"Sorry Mr. Wade, I am not going to get into a debate with you."
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