The biggest associations that are made to Jamaica are typically Bob Marley, and Marijuana, or ‘ganja’ as it is referred to by locals. Because of the popularity of the Rastafarian movement, mostly due to Bob Marley and reggae music, marijuana use is symbolic of this Caribbean country.
The smoking of ganja by Rastafarians is as a part of their religious ceremonies and is used as a spiritual drug. But in spite of the fact that marijuana is ever-present in the perception of this island, marijuana is not actually fully legal, and until recent times, it was not decriminalized.
The Jamaican Law and Ganja
In 2015, Jamaica passed an amendment in the drug law that decriminalized small amounts of marijuana for personal use. The law dictates that possession of up to 56 grams of marijuana is considered a petty offense, and is punishable by a fine of up to 500 Jamaican dollars, or roughly $5.
The law also states that five marijuana plants are per household and that Rastafari adults are now allowed to use marijuana for sacramental purposes, making Jamaica the first country in the world to stipulate that marijuana use associated with religious purposes is legal. These changes in the law are what many hopes are the first steps to fully legalizing marijuana in Jamaica.
With the change of law, medical marijuana is now legal, and many Jamaicans hope that they can now establish a presence in the emerging medical marijuana market internationally.
The law states that the possession of marijuana for medical and/or therapeutic reasons is legal. Many Jamaicans hope that the flexibility in the term “therapeutic” will lead to more tourists participating in the use of cannabis.
Ganja Tourism?
A lot of Jamaicans are excited by the possibility of pot tourism, where more tourists will partake in the smoking of marijuana. As per the new law, tourists who can produce a medical marijuana prescription from their country of residence will be allowed to purchase a permit upon entering the country that lets them buy and consume marijuana.
The amended bill does not allow marijuana to be smoked in public places, even if you have a medical marijuana prescription or fall under that religious purposes category.
But tourists are allowed to obtain a permit that allows them to buy and smoke marijuana within the boundaries of their resort, bungalow, or apartment, provided that the accommodations allow for the smoking or vaporizing of marijuana, so be sure to check this with the resort you are staying at.
Taking a tour of an outdoor marijuana farm is a popular tourist activity in Jamaica. It is highly recommended by those who have experienced these tours, and you can easily organize a tour with one of the many companies available.
But make sure you smoke all of the marijuana you purchase, because it is illegal to leave the country with marijuana, and falls into the category of drug trafficking.
Marijuana regulations need to continue to be strict for the foreseeable future, making sure that the correct processes can be put in place to educate marijuana farmers, but also to find companies that are prepared to invest in the Jamaican marijuana trade.
Once these things have happened, legislation can be extended upon, allowing Jamaica, its people, and tourists to profit from the new marijuana trade.
