The Jamaican government just past a dangerous drugs law
NEWS REPORTER"... "Marvin " from jamaica :>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>Recent changes made to the Dangerous
Drugs Act in 2015 will change the way that
ganja is handled by the authorities. When the
Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015
came into effect on April 15, 2015, new
provisions will be in place regarding
the possession and smoking of ganja, use of
ganja by persons of the Rastafarian faith, and
use of ganja for medical, therapeutic and
scientific purposes.
Some aspects of the new law will not be
operational until regulations, which are being
developed, are put in place.
Here are some points you should bear in
mind regarding the amendment to
the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Possession of 2 ounces or less of ganja is no
longer an offence for which one can be
arrested, charged and tried in court, and it
will not result in a criminal record.
The police may issue a ticket to a person in
possession of 2 ounces or less of ganja,
similar to a traffic ticket, and the
person would have 30 days to pay the sum of
J$500 at any Tax Office.
The ticket is called a “fixed penalty notice” in
the DDA.
It remains a criminal offence to be in
possession of over 2 ounces of ganja, and
offenders can be arrested, charged, tried in
court and, if found guilty, sentenced to a fine
or to imprisonment or both. The conviction
would also be recorded on that
person’s criminal record.
Smoking of ganja in a public place or within
five metres of a public place is prohibited in
a manner similar to cigarettes.
Adherents to the Rastafarian faith will also
be permitted to smoke ganja for sacramental
purposes in locations registered as places of
Rastafarian worship.
A person who is suffering from cancer or any
other terminal or serious chronic illness may
import medicine or a therapeutic product
derived from or containing ganja.
Each household is allowed to legally grow no
more than five ganja plants on its premises.
If there is more than one household on any
premises, each household may grow five
ganja plants.
Persons 18 years or older who are adherents
to the Rastafarian faith, or Rastafarian
organisations, may apply for authorisation to
cultivate ganja for religious purposes as a
sacrament in adherence to the Rastafarian
faith.
A Cannabis Licensing Authority is created by
the DDA for the purpose of enabling a
lawful, regulated industry in ganja for
medical, therapeutic or scientific purposes,
and in hemp, to be established in Jamaica.
