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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Jamaica Panel Urges Legalizing Pot
Associated Press
Thursday 16 Aug 2001 KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Saying marijuana is "culturally entrenched" in Jamaica, a government commission on Thursday recommended legalizing the private use and possession of small amounts of the drug by adults. The drug's "reputation among the people as a panacea and a spiritually enhancing substance is so strong that it must be regarded as culturally entrenched," said the commission's report, released Thursday. Any change to existing drug laws would have to be approved by Jamaica's Parliament. "My gut feeling is that the commission's recommendations will be followed," said Ralston Smith, an aide to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. Legalizing marijuana could cause friction with the United States, which cooperates with Jamaica in anti-drug efforts and opposes legalizing it. Jamaican National Security Minister K.D. Knight has also said marijuana use should remain illegal. The report by the so-called National Commission for Ganja - as marijuana is known in Jamaica - argued that in small amounts, moderate use of the drug caused no short or long-term health effects among most users. Possession and smoking of marijuana is illegal in Jamaica, but penalties are light. Experts estimate anywhere from 20 percent to 40 percent of the country's 2.6 million people smoke marijuana.
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