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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 17 Sep 2014 : 14:26:56
A story from AP Mobile:
In Jamaica, Rastas ready for pot decriminalization
 KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Taking a deep draw on a pipe that glows with burning marijuana, reggae luminary Bunny Wailer gives a satisfied grin through a haze of aromatic smoke in his concrete yard painted in the red, green, gold and black colors identified with his Rastafarian faith.
These days, the baritone singer from the legendary Wailers, the group he formed in 1963 with late superstars Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, has reason to feel good. There is unprecedented traction building in Jamaica to decriminalize pot, meaning the dreadlocked Wailer and other adherents of Rastafari - a homegrown spiritual movement that considers the drug divine - may soon be able to smoke without fear of arrest.
"Rastas have treated marijuana as something legal all along, even though we have been sent to prison for using the herb in our prayer. But this is the time for all these pressures to stop. The world is catching up now," the 67-year-old three-time Grammy winner said at his modest Kingston home.
Jamaica is known internationally for its marijuana. The hardy plant grows easily on the tropical Caribbean island, where its use is culturally entrenched despite being legally banned for 100 years. Cultivation is kept hidden, with small patches tucked into mountainsides, in swamps and between rows of other crops. Wailer, himself, was convicted of possession in 1967 and did more than a year of hard labor.
Previous moves to decriminalize the drug failed to advance mainly because officials feared they would violate international treaties and bring sanctions from Washington. But now, with a number of U.S. states relaxing their marijuana laws - Colorado and Washington even allow recreational use - Jamaica is rethinking its position....
Read Full Story
Related Link:
ABC News: InternationalIn Jamaica, Rastas Ready for Pot Decriminalization |
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| rassimian |
Posted - 20 Sep 2014 : 12:39:30
Have now managed to read the links. Both seem to be saying the same thing but there is a lot of difference between fining users for small possession of ganja and decriminalisation, which appears to be on religious and medical grounds only. If it does happen what about the non rasta smokers ? Do they fall prey to prosecution ? Bit of a joke really . Even though there are estimated to be between 30-70 thousand Rastas in Jamaica if this decriminalisation only applied to them you might as well double the numbers and make it a free for all cause no one is going to be able to police ganja smoking on that island. |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 19 Sep 2014 : 16:42:23
Thanks, I agree totally with your reply in all respects.
Alcohol is a very big problem WORLDWIDE making people do very stpid things and OFTEN associated with violence,it is a super money spinner for all suppliers concerned and governments who put heavy taxation to take their share,I suspect that many in government administrations everywhere and many in business of any kind will never turn down a bottle or crate of spirits or beer given as a "Thank You " for favours done or to be done.
Personally I am more than happy to drink a cup of tea,yes with milk and sugar  although after a hard days work in the heat a pint of beer is very refreshing 
quote:
Originally posted by rassimian
Momodou, can't get your links to AP mobile to open but I read about 2 months ago that the Jamaican government were looking to change the law only with respect to sentencing for possession. They were saying that possession of less than 2 ounces of ganja would be dealt with by a fine. Haven't heard any thing more but I doubt that they are going to decrimialise anytime soon but I may be wrong. I would think that the influence of the USA will go against this happening. Jamaica is tied economically to US and also to the World Bank.
toubab. I don't want to spend much time answering your point (which I think is saying that this would be a bad idea)but if you're going to target a drug how about looking at the effects of alcohol ,a much more dangerous drug than marijuana.(plenty of scientific and other evidence of this)There are always going to be casualties of drug use but maybe these should be seen from a health rather than a criminal perspective.
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| Momodou |
Posted - 19 Sep 2014 : 14:24:44
Related Link:
ABC News: InternationalIn Jamaica, Rastas Ready for Pot Decriminalization
Yahoo News: In Jamaica, Rastas ready for legal pot
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| rassimian |
Posted - 19 Sep 2014 : 13:01:45
Momodou, can't get your links to AP mobile to open but I read about 2 months ago that the Jamaican government were looking to change the law only with respect to sentencing for possession. They were saying that possession of less than 2 ounces of ganja would be dealt with by a fine. Haven't heard any thing more but I doubt that they are going to decrimialise anytime soon but I may be wrong. I would think that the influence of the USA will go against this happening. Jamaica is tied economically to US and also to the World Bank.
toubab. I don't want to spend much time answering your point (which I think is saying that this would be a bad idea)but if you're going to target a drug how about looking at the effects of alcohol ,a much more dangerous drug than marijuana.(plenty of scientific and other evidence of this)There are always going to be casualties of drug use but maybe these should be seen from a health rather than a criminal perspective. |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 17 Sep 2014 : 16:00:38
I have dealt with people (not necessarily only Rastas ) who smoke this drug to EXCESS over a long period of time I have NO DOUBT in my mind that their state of mind had been altered by taking marijuana causing them to become mentally ill and certified as such by a medical doctor resulting in their enforced stay in a Mental hospital.
The political establishment in the UK appears to be very anti "relaxation or happy feeling herbs of any kind" ,
However medical opinion is divided on this issue as the link below explains: (one of the experts is Dutch  )
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000220 |
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