I support decriminalisation of ganja, but not for smoking, says health minister

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, says he is in support of the decriminalisation of marijuana from a point of view of justice, but not of health.
“I don’t support the smoking of marijuana, just as I don’t support the smoking of tobacco…. Our position is very clear, there are some cannabinoids which is part of the constituent elements of marijuana that is useful in relation to health, but there are others, the THCs (Tetrahydrocannabinols), which are the psycho-active elements that in many regards have created a negative impact on the health services,” the Minister told journalists in Bethel Town, Westmoreland, on April 16.

Ferguson said any legalisation for the purposes of medical marijuana use, must be against the background of a regulated framework. “My support would not be (for) legalisation that will allow for wanton smoking of ganja,” the Minister said.

Commenting on the social impact of ganja smoking, Dr Ferguson said that in his capacity as Member of Parliament, he has seen many useful citizens, especially young men who were not presenting any anti-social behaviour, prevented from travelling and from benefitting from the Overseas Farm Work Programme, because of being caught with small quantities of marijuana in their youthful years.

Ferguson was in Westmoreland to deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Bethel Town & Neighbouring Communities Association Inc (BTANCA) health fair held under the theme:’Tackling Diabetes — Prevention, Treatment, Management’.