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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Jamaican commission recommends legalising some marijuana use
Ananova
Thursday 16 Aug 2001 A government commission in Jamaica has recommended legalising the private use and possession of small amounts of marijuana. The commission says the drug is "culturally entrenched" in Jamaica. Any change to drug laws would have to be approved by Jamaica's Parliament. Ralston Smith, an aide to Prime Minister PJ Patterson, said his "gut feeling" was that the recommendations would be followed, but other high-ranking officials say marijuana use should remain illegal. PJ Patterson appointed the commission, including doctors and academics, last year to study easing penalties against use of the drug, which is taken by many among Jamaica's Rastafarian religious minority. A report by the commission said: "(Marijuana's) reputation among the people as a panacea and a spiritually enhancing substance is so strong that it must be regarded as culturally entrenched." Experts estimate that 20% to 40% of the country's 2.6 million people smoke marijuana. The commission says that the use of marijuana by children and the public use of the drug should still be illegal, but the use of marijuana in religious ceremonies should be allowed. Legalisation could cause friction with the US, which cooperates with Jamaica in anti-drug efforts. A statement from the US Embassy said: "The US administration opposes the decriminalisation of marijuana use."
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