A government Senator in Jamaica wants marijuana to be decriminalised. But the legislator, Dennis Meadows, says he isn't suggesting a free for all.
"What I am advocating is that ganja, at the level of spliffs for private use, (should) be treated similarly to a traffic ticket," he argued during the State of the Nation Debate on Friday.
"What now obtains is only serving to criminalise our already marginalised young men and women, thereby creating a reservoir of hopelessness."
Senator Meadows said that, for example, many young men were unable to take advantage of government's farm work programme because of a previous conviction for simply having a marijuana joint.
"Decriminalisation, among other things, will serve to free up the police resources and the already stressed justice system to focus on more serious crimes," he added.
The Senator also suggested that the Government take steps to debate the recommendations of the Report of the National Commission on Ganja in Parliament, and to pursue diplomatic efforts to avoid international repercussions.
He acknowledged that they would be some people who argue that, because of treaty obligations, any attempt to decriminalise ganja will be met with far reaching diplomatic repercussions, particularly as it relates to the United States. However, he said that the Jamaican people wanted closure on the issue and were demanding action now.
The National Commission on Ganja had recommended, among other things, that use of small quantities of marijuana should be decriminalised
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