There are serious concerns being raised about the level of ignorance being displayed by some members of the public in relation to impending changes to the country’s ganja laws.
It’s believed that Jamaicans are not paying enough attention to the amendments which have implications for how they are treated by the police and the courts. One of the more pressing concerns is the belief by some that there is now a full scale legalisation of ganja.
Chairman of the Ganja Future Growers and Producers Association, Orville Silvera, acknowledges these difficulties. He argues that several Jamaicans have accepted the assertion that ganja is no longer illegal and have closed their minds to any other possibility.
Mr. Silvera is appealing to the private sector to assist in implementing urgent public education programmes to include communities and public hearings.
Meanwhile, Mr Silvera adds that the concern is greater when tobacco regulations are enforced with the ganja laws. Persons may find themselves facing heavy fines and possible jail time if they misunderstand the provisions. He emphasized that smoking in public places is illegal.
When the laws are amended, possession of ganja weighing two ounces or less will be a ticketable offence instead of an arrestable one, and persons will have the option of paying the fine as they do traffic tickets.
