Pubdate: Sun, 05 Aug 2007
Source: Jamaica Gleaner, The (Jamaica)
Copyright: 2007 The Gleaner Company Limited
Contact: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/feedback.html
Website: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/493
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

NDM CANDIDATE PINS HOPES ON GANJA LEGALISATION

A politician is seeking to use ganja as a platform to reach the
nation's Parliament.

Conrad Powell, a Kingston attorney-at-law running on the National
Democratic Movement ticket to represent the South East St. Elizabeth
constituency, has put ganja at the centre of his campaign for the
constituency.

"My main platform is the legalisation of ganja, creation of factories
to produce by-products from ganja, and the creation of hemp factories
in South East St. Elizabeth," Powell says in a release.

"Research indicates that there is a large market for medical marijuana
as well as pharmaceutical products made from ganja. Furthermore, there
is a large market for industrial hemp used in rope materials and car
production," he adds.

South East St. Elizabeth was won in the 2002 General Election by the
People's National Party's (PNP) Ken Blake. The constituency,
predominantly made up of farming communities, has four political
divisions, Malvern, Myersville, Southfield and Junction. Powell says
he is getting the support of farmers in the constituency.

Norman Horne is now contesting the seat for the PNP and Franklyn
Witter for the Jamaica Labour Party. If Mr. Powell is successful at
getting a few votes, he may turn out to be a spoiler in a seat that
the PNP won by 82 votes in 2002. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake