Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jun 2014
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2014 The New York Times Company
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298

JAMAICA: GOVERNMENT AIMS TO RELAX MARIJUANA LAWS

Jamaica's government on Thursday announced a major rethinking of its
marijuana laws, including plans to partly decriminalize small amounts
of marijuana and to allow possession for religious, scientific and
medical purposes. Justice Minister Mark Golding said the cabinet was
backing a proposal to make possession of no more than two ounces of
marijuana a petty offense that would result in a fine but not an
arrest. The proposed changes "are not intended to promote or give a
stamp of approval" to the use of the drug for recreational purposes,
Mr. Golding said, but to provide "a more enlightened approach to
dealing with possession of small quantities." The current law
prohibiting marijuana remains in effect for now, but lawmakers are
likely to amend it.
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