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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Jamaica: 'Stop locking up persons for ganja Jodi-Ann Gilpin The Gleamer Wednesday 28 May 2014 Speaking at the Jamaica Cannabis Conference, which was held at the Faculty of Law at the UWI last week, McDonald stressed that young people, especially, continue to encounter serious challenges in trying to move forward with future endeavours as a result of what he describes as ridiculous offences. "My own view is that there is a great deal of injustice being meted out to our young people, and so I believe that the Parliament should act. I don't believe it requires anything other than the commissioner of police instructing police officers to stop locking up persons for ganja, and that can be done immediately," he declared. Criminal possession "I believe we need to have discussions about urgently addressing persons who have been blacklisted for life over a simple 'spliff'. People don't understand the impact this can have on one's life, which in some cases, has cast a cloud of hopelessness on the lives of many, and it is simply ridiculous!" McDonald lamented. "I will leave that up to my legal colleagues to figure something out, but I do believe a formula can be arrived at, and something can be done quickly," he told The Gleaner. McDonald also called on parliamentarians to employ a more conscious approach in looking seriously at benefits that can be gained from the decriminalisation of ganja. "I think they need to lead the charge and wake up in Parliament. As a nation, we must begin to expand our barriers and enhance our ways of living in order to improve the way of life for our people. As a nation, we must begin to utilise our assets to the best of our ability," he charged. "The planes are flying over Jamaica and going to other countries which are benefitting greatly. I really think we need to wake up!" he declared. jodi-ann.gilpin@gleanerjm.com http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140528/news/news1.html
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