By Caribbean Medical News Staff
Some people in Jamaica have been asking for the legalization of marijuana for years but Minister of science, technology, energy and mining, Phillip Paulwell, said that the only way that marijuana can be legalized is if a concrete and clear regulatory framework is in place for the medicinal marijuana industry.
“We no longer need to be looking for perfection, let us start something and we can build on it. Already, we are seeing many models that we can look at, but there is going to be an inherent Jamaican model that we could export to the world,” the minister said.
And Chairman of the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Task force, Dr. Archibald McDonald says that he agrees that a public education campaign must accompany any policy and regulatory framework on medicinal marijuana and its use.
Just recently two members of the Bob Marley family have announced their intention to launch Marijuana based products from lotions to vaporisers in US states and globally which allow for the use of legalized cannabis while Julian Marley, son of music legend Bob Marley, says his products will also target US states.
“There are some sensitive issues that will not be solved overnight as the laws are changed. As we prepare to do business, we must think not just of the future growers, but of the existing growers and how we make the transition smooth,” said Mc Donald. He also emphasized that all stakeholder institutions must properly examine the scientific application of the plant saying that investigation into other plants for medicinal use should be encouraged as well.
McDonald also indicated that there was a need for reform in various treaties and laws relative to marijuana use for medicinal purposes including the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, to which Jamaica is a signatory.
“The governments in CARICOM (including our own) must use diplomatic channels to start the work to get these treaties and conventions amended. Let us seize the moment,” he said at a recent conference which highlighted the medicinal use of marijuana as a health and wellness option.
Those who support the legalization of marijuana have suggested that not only does the legalization of marijuana have benefits to the user who seeks it for medicinal purposes but can have incredible benefits to the economic and social fabric of Jamaica.
However, many scientists suggest that there is too much evidence to suggest that marijuana does more harm than good with recent studies suggesting that its prolonged use shrinks grey matter in the brain and may be responsible for some mental illness.
