Jamaican Government Approves Ganja Law Amendment

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.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx-pdWTz0Ro

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

Rob,

Does this also apply to visitors?

D

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."

Rob,

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

Linston want's to know

Cap

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.

Will there still be subs?

Hope they wrote the law the way the geniuses did in Mass where police cannot require you to produce ID so they cannot issue the $50 ticket. Lol

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Thanks man. We're already getting questions from visitors

Cap

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Originally Posted by BostonBob

Will there still be subs?

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Hahahaaaa..

tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock

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Originally Posted by BostonBob

Hope they wrote the law the way the geniuses did in Mass where police cannot require you to produce ID so they cannot issue the $50 ticket. Lol

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Interesting you say that. The law does state that you have to be able to produce ID. No ID and the issue now becomes more complicated. This is also being discussed as a new traffic law that you must have your driver's license on you. In the past you had 48 hours to produce it, but they are going to amend it to either make you have it on you, or be able to produce it in a short period of time. They do realize that we all sometimes forget things, but the 48 hours has proven to be unworkable as the police systems are being made more efficient.

While I agree almost entirely with Rob and appreciate his enlightenment, it is a valid question to ask how the new amendments to the Act apply to visitors. At least two countries that have liberalized their drug possession laws, apply the laws differently to visitors than locals. Of course there is almost no chance that Jamaica would even consider doing that and,indeed, the new law has no such provisions. When new laws are enacted anywhere, there can be an initial "flurry" of enforcement just because law enforcement has a tendency to "try out" the new authority. I am pleased to hear that the fine is rather modest. I remember in years past that $10US was the on the spot "fine" for possession in the rare instance when a smoker was actually questioned by a constable. The most worthwhile effect of the new regulations is, as Rob pointed out, that police and courts will be free to better use their time handling serious matters. However, the proponents of the legislation have also touted the prospects of increased revenue from taxes and fees and the profit that Jamaicans will realize from the business development of medicinal and recreational ganja. The Jamaican government has also reassured other nations that they will not decrease their efforts to stop the illegal smuggling of ganja to other countries.In fact with the expected licensing of those that would be involved in ganja growing and distribution, primarily in the medicinal sector, there will be more control of ganja in Jamaica. It will be some time before full effects of the new laws will be realized. I am very happy! Now we can watch as the US capital, the District of Columbia, enacts their new ganja laws, much to the dismay of some congressman.

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Originally Posted by BostonBob

Will there still be subs?

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No more subs soon you can call them spliffs.

Do we know when the new laws take effect?

Let's understand the new ganja law in Jamaica...

1. It's not legal, it's just been decriminalized. If a cop wants to hassle you, he can seize your stash and give you a $10 ticket.
2. You cannot smoke it in public unless you are a card-carrying Rastafarian.
3. The law dealing with where you can and cannot smoke tobacco holds the same for pot.
4. If you are a tourist with a medical marijuana card, you can legally buy medical marijuana in Jamaica. They will even give you a Jamaican medical marijuana card. But #2 and #3 still apply.
5. Of course, you can't bring it back with you.

Now, how much of this enforcing is going to go on? Less than before?

Wait, there never really was any enforcement against tourists. Status quo?

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em.

I think what we are witnessing is a gradual roll-out of legislation with the end game being legalization of ganja in Jamaica. Two of the most powerful people in Jamaica are spearheading this effort; Dr. Henry Lowe and Former PM P.J. Patterson. Dr. Lowe already holds a number of patents for Medical Marijuana and has a wide variety of teas and supplements already in the gear-up production stage.
http://biotechrdi.com/html/index.php...dr-henry-lowe/

Dr. Lowe with the legal assistance of P.J. Patterson has basically laid down the gauntlet to Mark Golding and the Jamaican Government to change the laws or he will take his multi-billion dollar production business to other countries who have a more enlightened view of outdated laws and restrictions. From my watching the process in Accompong Town, I have seen a pick-up in the pace of change. Dr. Henry Lowe has been in contact with several places in Jamaica to establish a medical marijuana processing plant and Accompong Town is one of those places.

Over 30 years time, I have seen change from the beating and locks-cutting of Rastafarians for minor possession to legalize possession of the same quantities. The tremendous monetary benefit to Jamaica from changing the laws and embracing cultivation, processing and distribution of these products is not lost on the Jamaican Government. It may take a little time to get there but it appears that sometime in a one to two year window, this may actually happen.

Peace and Guidance

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Originally Posted by Accompong

I think what we are witnessing is a gradual roll-out of legislation with the end game being legalization of ganja in Jamaica. Two of the most powerful people in Jamaica are spearheading this effort; Dr. Henry Lowe and Former PM P.J. Patterson. Dr. Lowe already holds a number of patents for Medical Marijuana and has a wide variety of teas and supplements already in the gear-up production stage.
http://biotechrdi.com/html/index.php...dr-henry-lowe/

Dr. Lowe with the legal assistance of P.J. Patterson has basically laid down the gauntlet to Mark Golding and the Jamaican Government to change the laws or he will take his multi-billion dollar production business to other countries who have a more enlightened view of outdated laws and restrictions. From my watching the process in Accompong Town, I have seen a pick-up in the pace of change. Dr. Henry Lowe has been in contact with several places in Jamaica to establish a medical marijuana processing plant and Accompong Town is one of those places.

Over 30 years time, I have seen change from the beating and locks-cutting of Rastafarians for minor possession to legalize possession of the same quantities. The tremendous monetary benefit to Jamaica from changing the laws and embracing cultivation, processing and distribution of these products is not lost on the Jamaican Government. It may take a little time to get there but it appears that sometime in a one to two year window, this may actually happen.

Peace and Guidance

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Very informative read on Dr Lowe~ thanks for sharing.

Although I am glad to see the decriminalization part seems the 5 plant limitation may be a hinderance to most of the small farmers...maybe part of the reason the law was passed. 5 plants is pretty much personal use and I doubt that would be a sustainable method of income for them. I think a lot of people will obviously still be in violation of the law. None of the farmers I have met in Jamrock is making cash off of just 5 plants. Even a small farm is 100 or so plants.

Oh yeah the $5-10 fine sure beats the on the spot fine...that was usually around $20 unless it was Friday afternoon and then it was at least $50. LOL!

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Originally Posted by vikesinja

Although I am glad to see the decriminalization part seems the 5 plant limitation may be a hinderance to most of the small farmers...maybe part of the reason the law was passed. 5 plants is pretty much personal use and I doubt that would be a sustainable method of income for them. I think a lot of people will obviously still be in violation of the law. None of the farmers I have met in Jamrock is making cash off of just 5 plants. Even a small farm is 100 or so plants.

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I think you are confusing "decriminalization" with "legalization" - the farming limits will of course be much larger when legalized. This is just the first step - 5 plants and you are not a criminal...

The first step is always the hardest. This is great news.

Fawnridge , How/Where does someone apply to become a Card-Carrying Rastafarian?

If you would've told me 15-20 years ago that I would see legalization in my lifetime, I would've said you were crazy.

I agree Muck. Never did I think in my life would we see the changes to the laws in USA. It is democracy and the will of the people coming through.