Marijuana Decriminalization Debates in January 30th 2015 with Cannabis Licensing Authority Regulator

 “The Cannabis Licensing Authority will, with the approval of the Minister responsible for Justice, make regulations treating with (among other things) procedures and criteria for applying for and retention of licences, permits and other authorizations for cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and other handling of ganja for medicinal, scientific and therapeutic purposes”

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding while addressing a Jamaica House media briefing, on Wednesday January 21^st, 2015 relating to amendments relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015

The News relating to the coming decriminalization of Ganja in amounts larger than 2 oz, is now coming thick and fast. It may represent a windfall not only for the Rastafarian faith but anyone wanting to make a business from the growing and sale of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) products.

This as Senate (Upper House) of the Jamaica Government is set to debate amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015 that will allow for the decriminalization of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) for medicinal, religious, and private/personal use as reported in the article “Rasta High - Members Of Movement Will Be Able To Grow Ganja If Law Is Passed”, Published Thursday January 22, 2015 by Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

In a Jamaica House Media briefing on Wednesday January 21^st 2015, Minister of Justice, Senator Hon. Mark Golding informed Journalists that on Monday January 19^th 2015, Cabinet had approved the tabling of the amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015 which involves decriminalizing the possession of 2 oz or less of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa).

Already, the news is making the rounds in the International scene  as noted in the article “Jamaica considers marijuana legalisation and production”, published 22 January 2015 at 01:28 GMT, BBC News, albeit they are referring to it as Legalization, albeit these are just really the first steps towards full legalization.

Also, congratulations on pushing forward this bold step have come from such diplomatic quarters as the Former premier of the Canadian province of Ontario, Ernie Eves, as noted in the article “Ex Canadian Premier Hails Jamaica For Ganja Decision”, Published Thursday January 22, 2015 12:55 pm, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Even the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) CCMRT (Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Taskforce) has congratulated the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) on taking this bold step towards the full legalization of Marijuana and Hemp and creating an Industry with financial benefits for Jamaica as noted in the article “Lobby group welcomes Cabinet's approval of ganja reform Bill”, published Thursday, January 22, 2015, The Jamaica Observer.

Decriminalization of Marijuana – Minister of Justice Mark Golding Timeline on Target

Good to note here that on Tuesday September 30^th, 2014, a Bill to amend the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act was passed into law, allowing persons who had previous Criminal records related to the use of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) to have their records expunged as noted in my blog article entitled “Minister of Justice Mark Golding announces Decriminalization of Marijuana - Still no word on Medicinal Cultivation or Legalizing Hemp so I can Quit like a Boss”.

Now that the Bill to amend the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act was approved and persons can now inform their lawyers to get their records expunged, the next step is to now pass the amendments relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015 so as to decriminalize the possession of 2 oz or less of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa).

This decriminalization will also make it possible for persons to use Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) for medicinal, religious, and private/personal use and also reduce the possession of such small amount to being a mere tickatable offence. 

However, to counter claims by the Medical Community that this lax approach to Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) will lead to increase incidences of mental illness and associated mental disorders, Minister of Justice, Senator Hon. Mark Golding plans to launch a public awareness campaign as reported in the article “Government to launch campaign to discourage certain vulnerable groups from using ganja - Minister Mark Golding”, published Thursday, January 22, 2015 11:42 AM, The Jamaica Observer.

This campaign, to be funded by revenues from the very same Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) and Hemp Industry that the amendments relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015 is intended to create, is targeted at certain vulnerable groups perceived by the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) to be vulnerable to becoming addicted to long term smoking of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa):

1.      Adolescents

2.      Persons with mental disorders

3.      Pregnant women

4.      Unemployed persons with violent tendencies

This is as had been the intention of the Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding when this first came to light during a similar Press Conference on Friday June 13^th 2014 as stated in my blog article entitled “Minister of Justice Mark Golding Marijuana Decriminalization by September 2014 – Ras Puddler’s Cultivation not possible as Ganja High upgraded to Ganja University”.

Now that the Senators have approved the Tableing of the amendments of the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015, the official tabling of these documents will be on Friday January 23^rd 2015. After that ceremony is completed, the official debate by the Senate is then expected to start on Friday January 30^th 2015.

A lot of technicalities that will open a door that has been closed for the past 67 years! So what's expected to change here? A lot, as even the Rastafarians are excited!

Marijuana for medicinal, religious, and private/personal – Hemp finally free from Marijuana stigma

When the debate starts on Friday January 30^th 2015, the Senators in the Upper House will be debating the details of these amendments relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015.

If passed, it'll allow the use of my blog article entitled and hemp for medicinal products such as those being made by Dr. Henry Lowe Marijuana company Medicanja, whose intended products are awaiting regulatory approval from the MOH (Ministry of Health) as detailed in my blog article entitled “Dr. Henry Lowe Medicanja's parent BTRDI launching IPO in 2015 - Why P.J. Patterson “fly the gate” for Hemp and Marijuana products to cure 84 ailments”.

This will jumpstart a Pharmaceutical Industry in Jamaica based on Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) and all the possible byproducts from its active ingredients CDB (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) as noted in my blog article entitled “Dr. Fenton Ferguson want Marijuana Medicine – Pharmaceutical Marijuana means big Profits and Taxes for the GOJ”.

The Rastafarians are quite pleased, as based on the wording of the announcement, they'll be able to grow Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) for the purpose of using it as a religious sacrament. It appears, though, that the Rastafarian Community is divided with regards to expanding into more commercial ventures relating to products that can be made from the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa).

They should be pleased.

Albeit these amendments relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015 will decriminalize it for these purposes, provisions in the Bill would place Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) Rizla under the Tobacco Control Regulations i.e. they attract a hefty JA$50,000 fine, like Tobacco is smoked in public.

Those regulations for Tobacco, which were implemented by the Health Dr. Fenton Ferguson under Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations 2013 using Section 14 and 15 of the Public Health Act are guided by the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005 as noted in my blog article entitled “Adventists want Ban on Vehicle Pollution as Smoking Ban looms on Monday July 15th 2013 - Dr. Fenton Ferguson's Escape Plan leads to All-Electric Vehicles, Bio-Fuel and Citronella Candles”.

These same regulations will be binding to smoking Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) in Public as well. So Rastafarians, don't get any bright ideas about Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) being legal to smoke, to quote Minister of Justice, Mark Golding: “It is to be used in designated areas such as the groundation or the tabernacle. We wouldn't endorse anyone walking on the road smoking and saying he is using it for his spiritual purposes”.

Marijuana Industry in Jamaica - Cannabis Licensing Authority to regulate Jamaica’s Marijuana Industry

The younger Rastafarians may be onto something, especially as it relates to making money from Hemp!

This as the amendments relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015 will also make it possible to cultivate Hemp, the male plant version of the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) that contains no active ingredients to be grown for making other products, mainly clothing and ointments.

This would involved such interested individuals, companies or institutions are getting permission from the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining to cultivate or import the Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) for research purposes. This is of course, provided that these individuals, companies or institutions are approved first by the SRC (Scientific Research Council).

To this end, so as to not make Minister Paulwell wear the title of Ganja Minister, a regulatory body called the Cannabis Licensing Authority will be established as mentioned in the article “Cannabis Licensing Authority to regulate ganja Industry”, published Thursday, January 22, 2015 7:15 AM, The Jamaica Observer. So says the Horses' mouth, , the Jamaica Information Service as stated in their article “Authority To Be Set Up To Regulate Medicinal Ganja Industry”, published January 21, 2015, by Alecia Smith-Edwards, the Jamaica Information Service.

Its aim is to set up a regulated Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) and Hemp Industry in Jamaica and make sure that all the players, be they individuals, companies or institutions are registered and approved by the SRC to grow and distribute Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa), Hemp and its associated byproducts.

I'm awaiting, with bated breath, the start of these Debates on Friday January 30^th 2015 in the Upper House of Parliament.