MARGAO: Despite the State police cracking the whip on drug peddling by implementing a two-pronged strategy of conducting raids and booking cases, while also holding regular awareness drives, cases of sale and distribution of marijuana are on the rise across South Goa district, and coastal Salcete in particular.
Even as countries across the world have legalised medical and even recreational maruijana use, with traditional practices of cannabis consumption widely accepted even in certain Indian communities, addiction to the drug at a young age has mild-altering effects, and is a serious issue plaguing Goa’s youth. The easy availability of marijuana, along with its popularity in Western television and pop culture has left parents worried.
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According to police records, till October 9 this year, the South Goa police booked a total of 19 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, with Margao, Ponda, Vasco and Verna accounting for the highest number of violations. Of the 19, the Vasco and Ponda police booked four cases each, while three cases each were booked by the Margao and Verna police stations. Salcete taluka, across its five police stations, booked 10 cases under the NDPS Act in 2021, 17 in 2020, and in 2019, they booked 31 cases in the first ten months, most of them in Margao, Colva and Fatorda police stations.
