Jamaica passes Historic Marijuana Law
Posted by Sagar Satapathy on February 09, 2015.
While many States in the US continue their fight in support of marijuana, Jamaica Senate passed a new marijuana law, which will change the social landscape of the Caribbean nation forever. The historic 'Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 2015', which was approved by Jamaica, allows possession of two ounces or less of marijuana a non-arrestable, but ticketable offense.Jamaica, which is notorious for drug related offenses, passed the law after a five-hour intense debate in the Senate. The decision came while the nation celebrated the 70th Birthday of Jamaican Music Legend Bob Marley, who had died in 1981. Marley is known for his connection to marijuana. While he publicly advocated use of marijuana, but his country never approved it. He sustained attacks on his life, but survived. He had live in exile for years in England.
The Jamaicans always loved Marijuana, which is known as 'Ganja' in their country. However, it remains a taboo in the country just like the Western countries such as the U.S., England and Canada. According to some statistical data published in 2013, 4,367 people were convicted for drug-related offenses in Jamaica. Most of them were arrested for simple possession of a small marijuana cigarette.
In 2014, there was a massive outrage across Jamaica, after a 31-year-old youth Mario Deane was beaten to death in his prison cell. He was arrested for possession of a marijuana cigarette. The new marijuana would also allow licenses, permits, and other authorizations of pot, which would help the establishment to set up a lawful and regulated industry for medical marijuana.
Although Jamaican Senate has passed the law, the House of Representatives would debate during the next session next week. comments powered by Disqus
