Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, JLP candidate for in the August 27, 2007 general elections.

Describing marijuana as "a silent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)", member of the Parliament's Human Resources, Social Development, Infrastruc-ture and Physical Development Committee, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, said Thursday that the weed was destroying an increasing number of young people.

Dr. Bartlett said ganja smoking was also a contributing factor to youth delinquency in the society.

During the committee's first meeting of 2008, held at Gordon House, Dr. Bartlett drew attention to the pervasive nature of ganja use in urban areas, as well as rural Jamaica.

"I have heard a number of other opinions, but I think, in my humble opinion, that marijuana smoking is really destroying our young men who are on the street corner every day 'kneading' out their hand middle and, before you know it, they look spaced out," he said.

concerns

His views resonated with those of Senior Superintendent of Police Carlton Wilson, head of the Narcotics Police Division, who told The Gleaner on Thursday that his team was concerned about the level of drug use among the youth.

Crafting a plan, which is aimed at demand reduction among the youth, SSP Wilson said the Narcotics Division, with the support of the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), would be targeting groups at risk . These include schools, youth club members and young men on the street corners.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bartlett, who made a direct link between male underachievement and drug use - particularly marijuana, asked the committee to conduct a study on the smoking of marijuana by young people and its effect on them.

"If we could conduct some kind of investigation on that subject, in the same way the matter of HIV was looked at," he said. "I think marijuana smoking is a silent HIV that is destroying men."

Another serious concern raised by SSP Wilson was the number of children involved in the cultivation of the drug.

"I know that there is a lot of delinquency in terms of absenteeism from schools," said SSP Wilson. He added that marijuana growers have used their children to help in the cultivation process.