Pubdate: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 Source: Jamaica Observer (Jamaica) Copyright: 2001 The Jamaica Observer Ltd, Contact: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1127 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) US ISSUES GANJA WARNING Decriminalisation Could Cause Certification Problems. A day after the National Ganja Commission revealed that it has recommended the decriminalisation of ganja in limited circumstances, the American Embassy hinted that Jamaica could face certification problems when the USA does its next annual narcotics review. "The US government will consider Jamaica's adherence to its commitments under the 1988 UN Drug Convention when making its determination under the annual narcotics certification review," US Embassy spokesman Michael Koplovsky said in a curt statement yesterday. The commission, chaired by Professor Barry Chevannes, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies, announced Wednesday, after months of public and private hearings across Jamaica, that it had recommended the decriminalisation of ganja for personal, private use by adults and for use as a sacrament for religious purposes. It also suggested that the administration should begin an intensive educational programme to reduce demand for the weed, particularly among young people; that the security forces increase their efforts of interdiction of large-scale cultivation of ganja and trafficking of all illegal drugs; and that the country, as a matter of urgency, should seek diplomatic support for its position and to influence the international community to re-examine the status of cannabis. The commission was established last year September by Prime Minister P J Patterson who asked it to examine the historical use of the ganja plant in Jamaica, by consulting with, and receiving submissions from relevant interest groups. The body was also required to indicate what changes, if any, are required to existing laws governing the use of ganja, or to recommend new legislation, taking into account social, cultural, economic and international considerations. But, the US government, through its mission here, had made it clear that it was opposed to decriminalisation of the drug. Jamaica is a signatory to the 1988 United Nations Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. The treaty prohibits the manufacture, trade in, import, export, engagement in transit traffic, sale, handing over, market, purchase or acquisition of narcotic substances, among them ganja. Last night, one political analyst speculated that the terse nature of the US Embassy statement could influence the national debate Patterson expects on the issue, as any decertification from the Americans could affect aid programmes. In July this year, the United Kingdom police started a pilot project in south London in which persons caught with small amounts of ganja are let off with an on-the-spot warning and the drug confiscated. The project, which is to end in December this year, is aimed at giving the limited number of police in Lambeth borough more time to tackle hard drugs and crimes associated with crack and cocaine. - --- MAP posted-by: