‘Puff Mi Ganja In Front The Sarge’? Spragga Benz, Chronixx & Mavado Fooled By ‘Cardboard Police’ Video
A video clip of three life-sized cardboard cut-outs of Jamaican police officers, juxtaposed with a dreadlocked man puffing a chalice, has fooled Reggae and Dancehall artists Spragga Benz, Chronixx, and Mavado.
Spragga Benz, who apparently believed the cardboard police officers were real, re-posted the video, which was initially posted by Mavado. It showed the Rastaman puffing away at the chalice and blowing the smoke over the heads of the “officers”, one of whom is almost leaning on him, as the camera pans back and forth.
Nyahbinghi chanting and drumming is also heard playing in the background, but the ‘officers’ are all static and the two without sunshades never blink.
“Blessed morning Rasta run the world,” Spragga Benz boasted triumphantly, as he added a flame and a rocket icon.
He was joined in his jeering by Chronixx who chimed in: “Officer dem look chaaaaaj…all d one in a e shades”, to which Spragga responded: “Brown man nuh tek him eye offa it nontaal.”
Agent Sasco’s wife Nicole McLaren Campbell also joined in, posting some laughing emoticons.
Most of Spragga’s unsuspecting followers cheered, hurled abuses at ‘Babylon’, claiming the “policemen” all looked high off of the ganja smoke, or were hoping that the Rastaman would give them a “draw”. Others said the video showed that Rastas were now victorious over the police who had targeted them for almost 100 years, for ganja smoking.
“Puff mi ganja in front the Sarge,” woodreynaldo bragged using Popcaan‘s Like Royalty lyrics. “Can see that them want a draw but through them in them uniform. Affi respect the work”
One woman declared, “Things and times really have changed. We have come a far way”.
But two followers immediately picked up that the images were not real and laughingly pointed out Spragga’s gaffe.
“That’s graphics work hiya. Lol. You can’t see those are images planted,” vb_versatile_barbers said, while daddybrownsfoodtruck added some flames, national flags and hi-fives and noted: “dwl a some cut out (cardboard) police dem deh.”
Ever since ganja was decriminalized under Jamaica’s Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act of 2015, many Jamaicans and non-nationals alike have conflated the term ‘decriminalization’ with ‘legalization’.
Although decriminalized, the smoking of Ganja in a public place or within five metres of a public place is prohibited in a manner similar to cigarettes.
Public spaces are defined as “workplaces and any place which is for the use of, or accessible to, the public, such as sidewalks, bus stops, restaurants, offices, educational institutions, pharmacies, hospitals, areas used by children, supermarkets and parks”.
The Act though, allows for several exemptions, among them adherents of the Rastafarian faith, who are permitted to smoke ganja for sacramental purposes in locations registered as places of Rastafarian worship.
Ganja possession is also permitted for medical or therapeutic purposes as recommended or prescribed by a “registered medical doctor or other health practitioner or class of practitioners approved by the Minister of Health”.
In addition, possession of ganja for purposes of scientific research that is conducted by an accredited tertiary institution or is approved by the Scientific Research Council is also allowed by the State.
Each household though is entitled to cultivate a total of five plants. It also remains a criminal offence to be in possession of more than two ounces of ganja. Offenders can be arrested, charged, tried in court and, if found guilty, sentenced to a fine or to imprisonment, or both. The conviction will also be recorded on that person’s criminal record.