Jamaica Loosens Marijuana Laws; Could More Pot Tourism Follow?

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The cabinet of Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica's prime minister, has approved proposed amendments to the law to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The approval was announced Thursday by Mark Golding, Jamaica's justice minister, who added the government will soon present a bill in Jamaica's parliament that will seek to expunge the criminal records of people convicted for possession of small amounts of the drug.

The cabinet approved proposed changes to Jamaica's Dangerous Drugs Act to make possession of 0.057 kilogram or less an infraction that would result in a ticket rather than arrest. Ticketed offenders would be able to pay their fine outside of Jamaica's court system. Golding said earlier this year that "decriminalization of the weed will become a reality this year."

Although marijuana is illegal in Jamaica, the drug is widely available in areas frequented by tourists, many of whom visit the country to participate in "ganja tours." In an apparent reference to Jamaica's Rastafarian religion, which regards marijuana smoking as a sacramental act, Golding added that, "Approval has been given also to a proposal for the decriminalization of the use of ganja for religious purposes."

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