Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has called on the Obama Administration to start talking about Ganga. This call came after Phillip Paulwell, Miller’s Minister in charge of science, technology, energy, and mining, told the Nation that Ganga would be decriminalized this year. This was a bold statement from minister Paulwell, consideration the changes needed to undo decades of legislation that attached serious criminal penalties to the weed. We felt it was necessary to offer our humble opinion at the time of the minister’s announcement.
https://mikebeckles.com/mywpblog/?p=6336#comments.
Decriminalizing cannabis is different than actual legalization. I was mystified at what was going on behind the scenes which would have precipitated that bold statement from the minister? It was not clear how Jamaica would navigate the shark-infested channel of international diplomacy, particularly with major power players like the UK, Canada, and the US.
These countries have all shown signs of easing restrictions somewhat, yet none has actually gone as far as to promise a definite timeline for decriminalization.
in the United States, a few states have moved ahead with easing restrictions, even with those steps Colorado and California are careful only to do so for medicinal purposes. It is important that even as some states have moved ahead with incremental decriminalization, anyone caught with the drug by Federal authorities is subject to Federal law’s full force.
The Federal Government has shown no intention of easing Federal restrictions on Cannabis. Even as the debate rages, the Obama Administration is fully engaged in deporting Immigrants caught selling or in possession of the weed. Jamaica is a small country that must obey international laws. How exactly will this promise of decriminalization work when the major powers are still actively engaged in this decades-long war on drugs?