Pubdate: Tue, 28 Aug 2001
Source: Japan Today (Japan)
Copyright: 2001 Japan Today
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Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

JAMAICAN PM WANTS TO DECRIMINALIZE GANJA

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

A commission of inquiry in Jamaica has recommended decriminalising ganja 
for private use by 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 were 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 legalising 
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 decriminalisation process, Jamaica would 
have to take some diplomatic steps because of international treaties and 
agreements it had signed.

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

The United States, the main source of visitors for Jamaica's tourism 
industry, would see decriminalisation as incompatible with a 1988 U.N. 
convention on drugs, and such a step could affect Jamaica's status under 
the annual certification process that Washington conducts, a U.S. official 
said.

"Our view is that decriminalisation is not in keeping with the 1988 U.N. 
Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic 
Substances, of which Jamaica is a signatory," a State Department official said.

"The U.N. convention is our road map for international cooperation, and 
decriminalisation would be seen as backsliding. This would factor into the 
president's decision for certification," added the official, who asked not 
to be named.

Countries that fail to obtain certification they are cooperating against 
drugs are ineligible for U.S. financial aid, except for anti-drug and 
humanitarian programs.

Patterson said Washington had not conveyed to Jamaica any formal views on 
the decriminalisation proposals.

He said the tourism industry in Jamaica had suffered in the short term from 
unrest in early July, when 25 people were killed in clashes between 
security forces and residents in the western neighbourhoods of the capital, 
Kingston.

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