Jamaica's complicated relationship with marijuana is set to become easier with the nation's government bidding to decriminalise the drug.
Marijuana - or ganja - has been illegal despite the country's long association with the drug through icons like Bob Marley, who was a habitual smoker.
Jamaica's government is driving for a change in law to decriminalise possession on a small scale and to limit the punishments for larger drug use.
Justice minister Mark Golding said possession of up to two ounces (56 grams) of ganja would result in a fine instead of an arrest, while use of the drug for religious, medical or research purposes will be made legal.
Mr Golding said convictions for smoking spliffs were too strong with youths indulging in the illegal drug later denied jobs and visas because of their record.
"A criminal conviction and the attendant significant adverse long-term consequences are not justifiable for what is a relatively minor offence," Mr Golding said.
"The changes to the law contemplated are not novel," he added. "The decriminalisation of ganja in Jamaica has been the subject of considerable study and recommendations over the years."
The proposal for decriminalisation dated back to 1977 before the nation's National Commission on Ganja stepped up support for the move in 2001.
Approval of the government changes to the Dangerous Drugs Act will see Jamaica join Uruguay and the US states Colorado and Washington in recent moves to legalise the drug under limited circumstances.
EdemAya, a community so rich in mineral resources, and one of the five clans that make up the present day Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria is hosting the world on the 29 th of March 2013. As we gathered from the head of the organizing group, Miss Precious Dominic Akpan, the event is scheduled to take place at the Cooperative Hall, Ikot Ubo Akama, Edemaya in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State. Three beauties are to emerge from the event which promises to be the first ever organized pageant. The Eligibility Form which are currently on sale for a token of N 2,000 will qualify the contestants to struggle for Miss EdemAya, Miss Democracy of EdemAya and Miss Culture & Tourism of EdemAya. The screening and training of the contestants commences on 25 th through 28 th of March 2013. We have been reliably informed that the event will parade ‘who is who’ in the music industry in Akwa Ibom State and a popular reggae artist from Delta State. Imagine the sque...
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