Cannabis and Jamaica

The picture that forms in many people's minds when the word 'cannabis' is mentioned is that of the dread-locked Jamaican Rastafarian pulling on his spliff, chillum or chalice. The colors of cannabis, red, gold and green were immortalized by the Rastafarian of Jamaica, none more so than the legendary reggae icon Bob Marley. At a time when the world was sinking under the prohibition of cannabis imposed by the suited businessmen of white America, Bob Marley and his band, The Wailers, emerged from the ghettos of Jamaica and spread a new religion through their reggae, the religion of cannabis. Well actually, this was not a new religion but one of the most ancient religions of the world that the Rastafarian continued to practice. To the rest of the world, where cannabis had been virtually removed from public life, where business suits, wheeling and dealing, snorting and injecting white powders and popping various kinds of pills had become the norm, the cannabis smoking dread-locked Jamaican appeared like an apparition from a past that they had tried to bury. Such was the popularity of the movement that spoke of ecology, love, peace and the herb that within a matter of a few years, Bob Marley's portrait adorned the walls of millions of homes world wide. Bob Marley became the spliff smoking icon of rebellion in the face of everything synthetic.

The people of Jamaica however continue, like the people of many countries of the world with deep cannabis cultures, such as India, to wage their continuing battle against cannabis prohibition. Even though many parts of the US, the country that imposed world wide prohibition, have legalized cannabis, the US banking system still does not recognize the plant as legal due to its federal laws. Jamaica, like other Caribbean countries, depends on the US banking system for its financial business and this has greatly hampered Jamaican entrepreneurs trying to set up cannabis businesses. There is increasing support for cannabis legalization within the Jamaican political system with reports of measures being taken by government to protect and provide assistance to cannabis farmers.

Jamaican cannabis is very likely to be some of the best cannabis in the world. The people of Jamaica and the people of the world have every right to be able to enjoy this wonderful, spiritual creation of nature. Jamaica and the world need to take steps to ensure that recreational cannabis is legalized within the country and the world over so that it can provide sustainable paths for the economy, trade, agriculture, industry, tourism, recreation and medicine.

The longer that recreational cannabis legalization is delayed, the more the damage that is wreaked on society by synthetic drugs. The UNODC World Drug Report 2020 said that the Caribbean countries are increasingly witnessing alarming levels of HIV and Hepatitis C infections, primarily brought about through the injection of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and heroin as well as the needle sharing associated with this dangerous practice. Being in close proximity to the US and Mexico, two of the world's leading markets as well as sources for these two highly dangerous drugs, it is quite obvious that the bad habits of these two nations are starting to rub off on the Caribbean islands. While Mexico and the US have started taking decisive steps to legalize cannabis with 2021 looking very promising, Jamaica still lacks the coordinated action at the grassroots level that these two countries have witnessed. 

Jamaica as a nation has been vocal on the world stage in trying to increase awareness and to push for changes to the repressive cannabis laws that have been in place through the UN for decades now. It has not been an easy battle considering that the foremost opponents are the wealthy nations that fund the UN and the big businesses that oppose cannabis and continue to gain immensely from its prohibition. Recently at the UN meeting to review the recommendations made for rescheduling cannabis in March 2020, Jamaica once again stood in support of the legendary plant. According to a report from MJBizDaily, 'Jamaica showed concern that “continuing delay will not improve access and enhance palliative care for those individuals who are suffering” from various illnesses.' However the same opponents to cannabis legalization, regressive nations such as Russia , Singapore and China succeeded in getting the rescheduling postponed to December 2020, reflecting the same widespread apathy that wealthy nations and authoritarian governments have for the concerns of the vast majority of this earth who suffer daily due to lack of access to the cannabis plant.

In December 2020,  the UN voted to remove cannabis from its most restricted Schedule IV category of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It does however still remain in Schedule I, which is the least restrictive. This one move by the UN itself should be sufficient to bring about the recreational legalization of cannabis in every nation and an overhaul of national drug laws. 

 

It must be noted that in most places where cannabis legalization has happened it took the efforts of the people who mobilized themselves through grassroots level movements to bring about this change. Left to lawmakers legalization would have been impossible, as the main interests of lawmakers concern the protection of the big industries opposed to cannabis such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, medical, alcohol and tobacco. For something that truly benefits the people, the people themselves have had to make the change.  

I wish for the nation of Jamaica to continue its support for cannabis legalization for recreational use, both internally and internationally and to work fearlessly to spread the message of the divine herb.The world will be as happy as Jamaica if Jamaican cannabis became available to everyone once again. Jah Rastafarai..

Listed below are articles taken from various media related to the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of your truly at the time of reading the article. 

 

'Dr Riley indicated that the SRC also has the capabilities to test the entire spectrum of terpenes — the taste profiles and aroma of cannabis — which have been linked to the treatment of cancer in a recent university study.

“Public safety is one of the major focuses of the SRC, and we aim to always use advanced technologies to ensure that precise information is provided, which can guide policy and can also inform the public in terms of making good decisions,” Dr Riley emphasised.'
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/medical-cannabis-related-evaluations-begin-september_173511?profile=1373


'The Jamaican government recently announced that it will be allowing medical marijuana patients to make cannabis purchases online for pickup at “herb houses” as a means to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

 The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) made the interim rule change in coordination with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. Patients who’ve already registered with a cannabis dispensary will be able to order products from those shops online and pick them up, a move regulators say is meant to “minimize the length of time spent in such licensed facilities thereby limiting the exposure of staff and patients alike.”'
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/jamaica-allows-online-medical-marijuana-purchases-at-herb-houses-to-stop-covid-spread/


'The agency is proposing that all fees will be 50% lower than the current fee for a Tier 1 License. That would make a special permit $1,000.

Tier 1 cultivation licenses limit canopy space to 1 acre or less.

The draft policy also proposes that applicants may apply for a waiver, deferment or payment plan if the reduced fees are too high'
https://mjbizdaily.com/jamaica-to-lower-cannabis-industry-entry-barriers-for-small-farmers/

  

'Jamaica showed concern that “continuing delay will not improve access and enhance palliative care for those individuals who are suffering” from various illnesses.'
https://mjbizdaily.com/postponed-vote-on-who-cannabis-recommendations-reveals-international-disagreements-uphill-battle-ahead/


'Smoke weed and float like a piece of paper,
Take off like Air Jamaica,
If a high grade me a burn up a acre,
Chalice!
Well, I just high in the morning, high in the evening,
When I say 'Hieee', don't take it for a greeting,
Herb is the healing, the reason, the meaning,
High!

Jamaican grass that Peter Tosh would endorse and Bob Marley would love.'

Jah Rastafari!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV5K8GpNRZo


'Marijuana has been pervasive but illegal in Jamaica for decades, consumed as a medicinal herb, puffed as a sacrament by Rastafarians and sung about in the island’s famed reggae music. After many years of dialogue about the culturally entrenched drug, and emboldened by changes to drug laws in U.S. states, Jamaica’s Parliament on Tuesday night gave final approval to an act decriminalising small amounts of pot and establishing a licensing agency to regulate a lawful medical marijuana industry.'
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/jamaica-decriminalises-marijuana/article6934528.ece


'“... I would say I was sitting on the fence … but I want to say upfront that now that the work has been finished and we prepared the report and sent it off to the Caricom heads of government, I want to say emphatically that I am not sitting on the fence anymore, and after reviewing all of the evidence, looking at all of the laws, listening to people in the region, I am personally committed and quite clear in my mind that the law needs to change,” she said, adding that this change could be through legalisation or decriminalisation.

“I personally feel it should be legalisation,” she said, noting the health and economic benefits.'
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/head-of-caricom-commission-calls-for-change-in-cannabis-laws_150021


'“We need to recognize that we must not make the mistakes of history. With respect to the cannabis, why would we seek to export when we can package and extract maximum value by having clinics as well as recuperative villages for people who want to deal with a certain aspect of pain management?

“So that the whole value added chain is delivered here, and the area in which we do it which is tourism, and that gives you a long-stay tourist,” she said.'
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/_Barbados_PM_comments_on_decriminalisation_of_marijuana


'The minister told the media that shortly after Dr Lowe received approval for cannabis-based drugs to treat a particular strain of leukemia, his account was closed by the bank, which cited falling afoul of corresponding relationship with the Government of the United States as the reason for doing so.

“[But] there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I see where a new law has been passed in the United States that approves a type of hemp, which is a kind of cannabis high in CBD and low in the THC (toxic) level. That may very well become a point of departure for us [and] to start there. In other words, Dr Lowe’s product could very well be within that range where the bill has been passed in the United States. And, if it is within that range, then we have to go right now to apply to regularise the banking relationships and other areas of the medicinal marijuana industry which we are targeting will be low in THC, as low as point zero three per cent THC, which is what the law allows in the United States. So, we can start there,” said an optimistic Shaw.'
https://wicnews.com/caribbean/jamaicas-shaw-push-marijuana-low-thc-342115840/


'“All of our commercial banks in Jamaica are obliged, right now, to go through the New York system in terms of the movement of money internationally,” he said, adding “we have the irony of a Jamaican scientist who gets an approval to develop a cannabis-based drug to fight leukaemia, and from no less an authority than the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)… [but] who had to watch as our local banks close his accounts because of this de-risking arrangement. This is why I am going to put a lot of energy into this lobbying effort”.

Shaw noted that while de-risking mainly affects smaller developing countries, like Caribbean states, the bigger developed nations “have managed to figure out a way” around the issue.'
https://www.tv6tnt.com/news/regional/jamaica-to-lobby-international-community-regarding-marijuana-industry/article_b41e217c-306a-11e9-b2e1-9b293150a632.html


'Mottley said that one of the tasks of the unit will be to facilitate the establishment of a Medicinal Cannabis Authority and Board, which will be responsible for regulating the medicinal cannabis industry, through the formulation and implementation of appropriate policies, procedures and guidelines, as well as for the conduct of inspections.

She told legislators that the island would be seeking to establish partnerships with entities who have the necessary experience and who are willing to invest in the development of the industry.

She said this would include the assistance of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) with establishment of a train-the-trainers programme; the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council will assist with accreditation through Caribbean or National Vocational Qualifications (CVQS/NVQS); and the University of Guelph for the establishment of a research and development, as well as a certification programme.'
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/barbados-tells-of-plans-to-develop_160310?profile=1373


'According to Minister Shaw, “Jamaica is uniquely positioned to be a global player and we are committed to providing the leadership and resources required for opening the international markets including Canada and Europe for our licensed and regulated Jamaican companies.”'
https://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-makes-first-shipment-of-medical-marijuana-extract-oil-to-canada/


'He said that should the present condition on the movement of funds remain, the issue of the movement of money will affect Jamaica and other small countries and that the ‘big boys’ will find a way around that issue while others will suffer.'
http://wicnews.com/caribbean/jamaican-agro-minister-calls-us-cooperation-cannabis-industry-265111071/


Related articles
Cannabis and Funding for Education
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-funding-for-education.html

Cannabis and Job Creation
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-job-creation.html

The impact of cannabis on traditional competition
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-impact-of-cannabis-on-traditional.html

Cannabis and Equity
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-equity.html

Women and Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/women-in-cannabis-industry.html

Industrial applications of cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/industrial-applications-of-cannabis_23.html

Cannabis Retail
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-retail.html

Cannabis Beverages
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-beverages.html

Cannabis and Wellness
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-wellness.html

Cannabis and the Media
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-media.html

Cannabis and the Food Industry
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-food-industry.html

Cannabis and Banking
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-banking.html

Cannabis Biology
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-biology.html

Industrial Research on Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/industrial-research-on-cannabis.html

Cannabis Research in Universities
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-research-in-universities.html

Government Research on Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/government-research-on-cannabis.html

Cannabis and the Caribbean Countries
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-and-caribbean-countries.html

Cannabis and the UN
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-and-un.html

Cannabis and India
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-and-india.html

Cannabis Opposition
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-opposition.html

Cannabis Laws
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-laws.html

Cannabis and Crime
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-crime.html

Cannabis Advocacy
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-advocacy.html

Cannabis convictions and imprisonment
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-convictions-and-imprisonment.html

Cannabis and the DEA
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-dea.html

Cannabis and the Black Market
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-black-market.html

Cannabis and Law Enforcement
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-law-enforcement.html

Cannabis and Pharma Companies
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-pharma-companies.html

Cannabis and Youth
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/03/cannabis-and-youth.html

Cannabis and the Environment
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-and-environment.html

Cannabis as an Agricultural Crop
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-as-agricultural-crop.html

Cannabis as Medicine
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-as-medicine.html

Cannabis for Recreational Purposes
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-for-recreational-purposes.html

Cannabis and Research
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-and-research.html

The Business of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-business-of-cannabis.html

The Economics of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-economics-of-cannabis.html

The Legality of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-legality-of-cannabis.html

The Politics of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-politics-of-cannabis.html

The Social Usage of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-social-usage-of-cannabis.html

No medicinal value?
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/02/no-medicinal-value.html


Cannabis as Universal Medicine
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-as-universal-medicine.html


Cannabis and the Elderly
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-elderly.html

The Recreational Cannabis Consumer
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-recreational-cannabis-consumer.html

The History of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-history-of-cannabis.html

Cannabis and Social Consumption Areas
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-social-consumption-areas.html

Cannabis and Musicians
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-musicians.html

Cannabis Tourism
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-tourism.html

Cannabis and Cooking
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-cooking.html

Cannabis Events
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-public-events.html

Cannabis in the Workplace
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-in-workplace.html

Cannabis and the US Federal Government
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-and-us-federal-government.html

 

Cannabis and the Medical Industry

https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-medical-industry.html

 

With no scientific basis global drug laws are invalid
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/06/with-no-scientific-basis-global-drug.html

A Look At The NDPS Act 1985 From A Cannabis Perspective
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-look-at-ndps-act-1985-from-cannabis.html  

Cannabis usage in 19th century treatment of infectious diseases
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/cannabis-usage-in-19th-century.html

19th Century usage of cannabis as medicine by Indian physicians
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/19th-century-usage-of-cannabis-as.html

Cannabis and Sickle Cell Disease
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-sickle-cell-disease.html

Cannabis and Nausea
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-nausea.html

Cannabis and Insanity
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-insanity.html

References to medicinal cannabis in ancient texts
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/references-to-medicinal-cannabis-in.html

Cannabis and the Digestive System
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/cannabis-and-digestive-system.html

Cannabis and Cocaine
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-cocaine.html

Cannabis and Benzodiazepines
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-benzodiazepines.html