First of all I want to say nuff respeck to Father Marcus. Although I lent the CD to someone and never got it back, I can clearly remember your powerful words on the 'Rastafari Elders' compilation. Hopefully the guy who stole it learned something from it.
Now, as far as this subject, I think you have a point, but then again:
-Planting collie and planting food is not mutually exclusive, you could do both
-As we know ganja could be used for much more than only smoking/drinking/eating, in fact it can be used as food itself: the hempseed is one of the most complete proteins. And also for medicine (as well-publicized), to make paper (with much less acreage than the trees that would otherwise be cut down to make it), strong strong rope, oils, and even fuel. Of course for many of these purposes you would want to plant cannabis ruderalis which you can't get 'high' off of, but it is the same species still.
-With the flooding of our countries with cheap, inferior produce from the industrialized nations (thanks to NAFTA, Caribbean Basin Initiative, etc)many farmers find they can no longer survive by selling their produce. Hence planting ganja, despite the risks, could be the only economically viable option for some people. It is certainly better than getting involved in the hard drugs trade which is tearing our societies apart. Although this brings up exactly your point, because we wouldn't want to replace food with a cash crop, no matter how much I personally might like that cash crop. That is the tactic the colonial powers have long used to keep us dependent and it is what ultimately led to many of the famines in Africa. But in the short run, what choice do some people have?
-I was just reading an old 'Stabroek News' (Guyanese newspaper) which talked about how back in 2003, in Jamaica, a cop was chasing a man who was smoking a spliff. Apparently burning this spliff was his only 'crime' but nonetheless this pig decided to shoot at the man, aiming to get him in the back as he ran. Instead, he shot a 10-year old girl in the back of the head, killing her instantly. Now, should incidents like this mean that those of us who burn herbs for spiritual purposes, or for any other purpose, should cease to do so, in case we get shot by the beasts, or inadvertently cause the beasts to shoot a little child? Or should it mean that, whether or not we burn, eat or drink herbs, we should rise up in righteous fury and and fight against our enemies (whether physically, legally, economically or whatever) until we have won? If enough people refuse to obey an unjust law, the law will eventually become unenforceable. This is not to say that people should be stupid about it and go by themselves and light up a spliff in front of a police station while cussing out the cops, or take all manner of unnecessary risks in selling herb, etc., thinking that 'Jah will protect them', like certain people I know who ended up caught in the system.
I also have to ask, how come it is that out of all the countries in the Caribbean, it was JA that came out with the most powerful liberation music of Black consciousness that has reached around the globe? (Well that is my opinion, and no disrespect intended to calypsonians, vodoun musicians, etc.) It seems to me that there is something about the herb that goes along with both great music and a high level of consciousness. If you notice many of the most innovative musicians have used the herb, not just in reggae music, but also jazz (Louis Armstrong), rock (Beatles, etc), blues, etc. Well that is only my lil theory but it does seem to me that herb specifically connects with musical abilities somehow.
Anyhow I am sorry to ramble away from the original point a little. To sum it up, yes people must plant more food, but there is nothing wrong with planting some herb too. Just be nice and careful and don't get locked up until the people batter down the governments' door and make them repeal these idiotic laws that criminalize one of Jah's creations.
Raspeck, Peace and Love, G