KINGSTON, Jamaica — Senators today poked more holes in the legislation now being debated in the upper house to decriminalise ganja.
The Opposition, although agreeing that the law is a good move, are not the only ones asking for the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill to be tidied up.
Government Senator, KD Knight, said limiting the cultivation of marijuana to the Rastafarian community was “unfair”, while suggesting that allowing the use of ganja for medicinal purposes, would in essence make it legal, even though legalising ganja is not the aim of the Bill.
He further said that he was “not comfortable” with the aspect of the Bill that provides for the use of a “dangerous drug” for medicinal purposes.
Senator Knight argued that a separate law should be drafted for the use of ganja for medicinal purposes. Knight posited that a “medical ganja bill’ would eliminate ambiguity.
Senator Knight also said critical stakeholders such as the National Council on Drug Abuse and the National Road Safety Council should be a part of the dialogue on the Bill.
On the other side of the chamber, Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte described the legislation as “very, very badly drafted, and incomplete”.
She said that “given all of this big talk” about protecting persons who smoke a “spliff” from being slapped with a criminal record, the legislation must be redrafted as a number of the provisions are too ambiguous and will pose a serious challenge for the public and law enforcement.
Another Opposition colleague, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, while agreeing that the Bill was “overdue”, said she was concerned that one burden is being exchanged for another.
She cautioned that the legislation should not be implemented without the proper supporting systems in place.
Meanwhile, Opposition Senator Robert Montague said the legislation gives the minister too much power to determine who is allowed to cultivate and use ganja.
“The minister is setting up himself to be the pope of rastas, not the hope,” he snapped.
He blasted the proposed Bill as being discriminatory, cumbersome, and bureaucratic.
Senator Montague also noted that not all Jamaicans are in agreement with the decriminalisation of ganja, and that the law needs to take that into account, and provide an avenue for those voices to be heard.
The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill is being debated Senate.
Alphea Saunders
