Jamaica Gleaner - 'Marijuana could be decriminalised soon' - Friday

Speaking at The Gleaner Editors' Forum yesterday, Paul Burke, member of the Alliance implied that the Government would soon have to respond to a groundswell of public opinion.

"I believe we are going to get decriminalisation within the next six months or by the end of next year," Mr. Burke said. "I believe a momentum is developing quietly on the ground and I think a lot of people are supportive of it."

ONE STEP CLOSER

As the ganja debate continues, decriminalisation is seen as one step away from full legalisation of the drug.

Decriminalisation speaks specifically to doing away with the penalties which apply to use of the drug. Legalisation allows for full regulation of ganja use that would accommodate commercial trading activities.

Also at the Editors' Forum was Dr. Ethan Nadelmann, advocate for drug policy reform in the United States, who along with Mr. Burke made submissions to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Wednesday.

The Committee was convened to review the seven recommendations on the 2001 National Commission on Ganja.

Dr. Nadelmann, executive director of the U.S.-based Drug Policy Alliance, all but dared Jamaican authorities to consider implementing the seven recommendations of the Commission. Among the recommendations was for laws to be amended to allow private, personal use of small quantities of ganja by adults. "If the Parliament does no more than recommend the decriminalisation of ganja, the U.S. government may huff and puff, but ultimately there may not be a basis for levying any sanctions on Jamaica," Dr. Nadelmann said.

"It's hard to see them criticise Jamaica for taking a step that has already been taken in a dozen American states, as well as in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the European Union. Jamaica would be on very strong grounds to challenge the U.S. in that way."

MISSING OUT ON BENEFITS

He pointed to wide use of ganja both by locals and foreigners and said that Jamaica was missing out on opportunities to benefit from regulating its use.

"Since ganja already plays such an important role in your tourism industry, shouldn't ways be considered to benefit from the revenues from that legally. Isn't what is happening in Negril a small model that could be experimented with that would not be in violation of international laws. This could be modelled on the Dutch approach. I'm not saying to move there right away, as it would incur the wrath of the United States."

The Netherlands permits use of ganja in designated, licensed establishments. This is a part of its capital, Amsterdam's tourist appeal.

The Parliamentary committee will continue to hear submissions into next month.