Pubdate: Mon, 27 Aug 2001
Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2001 Sun-Sentinel Co & South Florida Interactive, Inc
Contact:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1326

JAMAICAN PM FINDS ARGUMENTS FOR DECRIMINALIZING GANJA FOR PRIVATE USE 
'PERSUASIVE'

WASHINGTON - Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson said on Monday that 
he found "persuasive" the arguments for decriminalizing the private use of 
ganja, the local term for marijuana or cannabis.

A commission of inquiry in Jamaica has recommended decriminalizing ganja 
for private use for adults, for medicinal purposes or as a religious sacrament.

Patterson, who is on a private visit to Washington, told reporters he 
wanted parliament to discuss the commission's report in the autumn and the 
government would then recommend whatever legislative amendments are needed.

Asked what he thought of the report, he said: "I find the recommendations 
of the report persuasive."

"I want to make it absolutely clear that we are not considering legalizing 
in the sense of making it legal for people to grow, to sell, to export. It 
is for private use and of course it will have to be confined to adults," he 
added.

Patterson said that as part of a decriminalization process, Jamaica would 
have to take some diplomatic steps because of international treaties and 
agreements it has signed.

"That process we intend to begin shortly," he added.

The United States, the main source of visitors for Jamaica's tourist 
industry, is expected to oppose decriminalization but Patterson said 
Washington had not conveyed any formal views on the proposals.

The tourist industry in Jamaica has suffered in the short term by the 
unrest of early July, when 25 people were killed in clashes between 
security forces and residents in the western neighborhoods of the capital 
Kingston.

"But we feel pretty confident that we will be able to overcome it in the 
medium and long term," Patterson added.
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MAP posted-by: Beth