05 MAR 2019: Got to legalize it… And don’t criticize it… And I will advertise it. (Peter Tosh). With much of the Western world moving inexorably towards the full legalization (and sale) of marijuana and, indeed, many destinations now capitalizing on cannabis tourism, it is only natural that many eyes are looking at Jamaica – the country perhaps most synonymous with the plant.
After all, “ganja” is culturally entrenched in the country: used by many as means of seeking peace and wisdom, sung about by reggae artists, and religiously revered by Rastafarians who believe it to be the “herb of life.” It is also invariably sought after by – and available to – visitors, often as soon as they arrive on the island and exit customs, and in many places thereafter.
Yet, cannabis is in fact illegal in Jamaica, though it was decriminalized in 2015. As a result, individuals caught possessing less than two ounces of the weed are subject to a fine, albeit of only JA$500 (about $5.25), but possession of more than two ounces – unless it is for medical, scientific or religious purposes – is an arrestable offence. Pot caught being taken out of the country will be confiscated.
On the other hand, three medical marijuana facilities (sanctioned by the Cannabis Licensing Authority) now exist on the island, and on-site doctors can give prescriptions based on a variety of ills a visitor might exhibit, such as headache or nausea.
But despite the seemingly casual attitude towards marijuana on the island, whether Jamaica takes the next step toward legalizing non-specialized usage is the subject of much speculation and debate.
Jamaica Tourist Board director Donovan White says there are no immediate plans to change the current framework of laws that regulate the use of the drug, but he acknowledges that there is “obviously a tremendous amount of groundswell globally about cannabis” and he admits that there is a “tremendous amount of policy debate at the government level as it relates to what will happen with Jamaica and marijuana as relates to the global phenomenon.”
He adds, “It would be remiss of me to say we’re not interested to see how this develops… Obviously when you speak of marijuana, sometimes Jamaica is one of the first countries that comes to mind, so we understand the value of what it means.”
However, he warns that while significant changes in the legality of possessing pot have occurred in the past few years, it doesn’t mean the issue is being fast-tracked.
“We’re very cautious and circumspect how this will develop in our society and how we treat with it. We have to ensure that we have given due thought and due diligence to what happens if we do (legalize it), what happens if we don’t… so that when we develop a policy, we would have considered all the possible ramifications of cannabis.
He adds, “We believe it is important that we do this due diligence and understand the pros and cons of the product as an attraction. We believe as a society that we have to be extremely understanding of all the circumstances before we rush into any decisions.”