Jamaican Movement to Decriminalize Ganja in the Works

Many people across the world associate Jamaica and Rastafarian culture with the blessed green herb, but cannabis is still illegal in Jamaica. However, that may soon change. According to Justice Minister Mark Golding, the Cabinet will consider changes to cannabis prohibition laws by the end of the year.

We have been working on that for some time now, and it’s at an advanced stage, so Cabinet will get the opportunity to consider our recommendation and we will see whether the Cabinet is minded to move forward in the way that we have proposed,” says Golding.

In 2001 Jamaica’s government appointed National Commission on Ganja, chaired by the late Professor Barry Chevannes, created a report which called for the decriminalization of cannabis, however, the issue was quickly swept under the rug. The report specified that many countries had changed their views on the herb, shifting their efforts away from prohibition and towards research into the medicinal benefits of cannabis. They also cited evidence that medicinal use of cannabis was condoned in several states in the U.S. and also parts of Canada.

The new proposal is currently being worked on by the Jamaican Ministry of Justice and has not yet been released, but according to Golding it will build off the 2001 report. The 2001 report advocated for cannabis legalization for private personal use in small quantities, for use as sacrament for religious purposes, for the prohibition of cannabis use by juveniles, for a media and school education program targeted towards youth, and for the coordination of research on the effects and benefits of cannabis.

Although cannabis is a large part of Jamaican culture, it remained under prohibition largely due to pressure from the United States. Dr. Henry Lowe, Jamaican chemist and cancer researcher, was discouraged from doing research into the medicinal benefits of cannabis several years ago.

Attorney and decriminalization advocate Miguel Lorne commented that “[a]s a consequence of the US wielding that big stick over our head, our politicians are in fear.” But Justice Golding believes the time is right for reassessment of Jamaican cannabis law. “In light of international developments, particularly in this hemisphere, particularly the United States, the situation has changed. I think it’s an appropriate time for us to look at reforms in this area,” he argues.

The decriminalization movement has many supporters, such as parliament members Mike Henry and Raymond Price who have both sponsored decriminalization measures. Advocates argue for the economic benefits of decriminalization.

“For the Government to see ganja as part of the economic security that can be derived by the country, they must see as we do, that ganja can give you much more money than we borrowed from the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” says Attorney Miguel Lorne.