Jamaican Government Approves Ganja Law Amendment

[negrilsand]

The Dangerous Drugs Act(amended) Bill concerning the decriminalization of ganja in Jamaica has passed both chambers of the parliament . Now the bill will go through the process, which apparently is a formality,of being approved by the Govennor-General who represents the Queen. The amended act should soon become the law. The new regulations apparently forbid smoking ganja in public among other provisions. The possession of 2 oz or less of ganja can be cited by the issuance of a "ticket" with no arrest and no criminal record. There apparently is a small fine involved. I wonder how all this will evolve. Will there be a flurry of tickets written in the beginning .The temptation for increased revenue might happen for a while.

[halfwaytree]

It's official now.

In certain casses ganja is decriminalised or just outright legal.

No criminal record for anything under two ounces.

Rastas are free to burn a fatty on religious grounds and tourist who visit the island and have legal medical prescriptions back home to use ganja will be free to smoke up.


http://news.sky.com/story/1433796/ja...-gets-go-ahead

[Kevin, PA]

[BostonBob]

Nice Kevin. Good to hear. Too many other more pressing matters for the law to tackle than Ganga it seems to me.

[Rob]

The Dangerous Drugs Act(amended) Bill concerning the decriminalization of ganja in Jamaica has passed both chambers of the parliament . Now the bill will go through the process, which apparently is a formality,of being approved by the Govennor-General who represents the Queen. The amended act should soon become the law. The new regulations apparently forbid smoking ganja in public among other provisions. The possession of 2 oz or less of ganja can be cited by the issuance of a "ticket" with no arrest and no criminal record. There apparently is a small fine involved. I wonder how all this will evolve. Will there be a flurry of tickets written in the beginning .The temptation for increased revenue might happen for a while.

The whole point of the decriminalization of ganja is to free up the police so they can deal with more important matters. The fine is going to be less than us$5, so even a "flurry of tickets" would not be much of a temptation for increased revenue at all.

Is it more likely that there will be little to a few tickets issued under the new ruling. By changing the law, the government has made it obvious that they no longer want their officers and courts to waste their time on small amounts of ganja.

[captaind & Linston]

Rob,

Does this also apply to visitors?

D

[Rob]

Capt,

If you break the law in Jamaica, it doesnt matter what country you are from. You broke the law. if a tourist is caught speeding, they can be issued a ticket just as a Jamaican. There are not separate laws for visitors to the island.

If you click on the link posted by Halfwaytree (great name), here is just some of what you will find. You will even see this mention of tourists:

"Jamaica has decriminalised the possession of small amounts of marijuana and approved the drug's use for religious, medicinal and therapeutic purposes.

Legislation passed by both houses of parliament paves the way for a "cannabis licensing authority" to be established to regulate the drug.

The change means Jamaicans will be able to cultivate up to five marijuana plants on a single premises without facing arrest."

"Tourists who are prescribed medical marijuana abroad will also be able to apply for permits allowing them to buy small amounts of Jamaican pot."

[captaind & Linston]

Rob,

What I'm asking is would it be the same ticket/fine for a visitor.

Linston want's to know

Cap

[Rob]

Yes, just like a speeding ticket is the same for both locals and visitors alike, this minor fine will be the same for everyone and will not show up on anyone's criminal record (like a parking ticket). But nothing has changed with respect to visitors having some separate set of laws, which has never been the case. Laws are laws.

[BostonBob]

Will there still be subs?