cannabisnews.com: That Wacky Tobaccy That Wacky Tobaccy Posted by FoM on October 12, 1999 at 22:35:01 PT Arlene Getz with Knolly Moses in Kingston Source: Newsweek Marijuana has always been a staple of Jamaican jokes and folklore. Now the island country's government might make the drug legal, too. Responding to mounting public pressure, Jamaica's Senate last week approved the appointment of a national commission to review and perhaps decriminalize the plant known locally as ganja. "Ganja is rooted in our past," said Trevor Munroe, the independent senator who submitted the motion calling for the commission. Munroe believes the panel should consider marijuana usage within the context of Jamaican culture and consider wiping out the criminal records of those with convictions for personal pot use. "Ganja is the substance of the poor and the young, while the middle class use alcohol," Munroe told Newsweek.com, "so there is an inequity in the way we treat users of the herb." Munroe is not a lone voice. A poll taken earlier this year showed that most Jamaicans—52 percent—believe that while drug trafficking should remain illegal, smoking marijuana should not be a criminal offense. The ruling People's National Party (PNP) also favors the establishment of a commission to investigate the possible "industrial uses" of what it prefers to call hemp. That support could help Jamaica become the first Caribbean country to decriminalize the wacky tobaccy. Still, ending the nation's 86-year-old ban on ganja smoking won't be easy. Inside the country, the opposition includes influential personalities like Police Commissioner Francis Forbes. Outside forces, too, could play their part. When a similar commission recommended easing Jamaica's marijuana laws 20 years ago, politicians refused to implement them for fear of offending influential trading partners like the U.S. Kingston may have relaxed its attitude since then, but Washington probably still has a way to go.By Arlene Getz with Knolly Moses in Kingston WEDNESDAY, October 13, 1999 Newsweek MagazineRelated Article:Jamaica Mulls Legalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread2612.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by jesse szurka on May 30, 2001 at 14:08:34 PT ganja I love to paint, smoking ganja helps me come up with stripy seens. Most people think that ganja weel distroy your bind it exspands it to a hole other lavel in other words it free's you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by JonnyCox on May 21, 2001 at 20:52:28 PT Please free the weed I can't believe that to this day ganja is still illegal in most countries. It's crazy. I totally agree with "Jamaican grass" about moving to Jamaica and just living in a hut, smoking the peace. The government should try to protect us from others, not from ourselves; shit, not that marijuana even hurts anyone. Power to the people to free the weed! My Cannabis site [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by MS.JOHNNIE WHITE on May 08, 2001 at 14:53:56 PT: STOP LACING WEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE WEED BUT I JUST DECIDED TO STOP SMOKING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING OTHER THINGS ON IT THAT IS "SUPPOSE" TO GET YOU HIGHER. PEOPLE SHOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN REALLY GET BRAIN DAMAGED( I KNOW SOMEONE PERSONALLY THAT DID). LATELY, I'VE BEEN HAVING HEADACHES. I'LL NEVER SMOKE AGAIN UNLESS I FIND SOME THAT FOR SURE HASN'T BEEN MESSED WITH. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Jamacian grass on April 05, 2001 at 20:39:10 PT: Jamacian Grass I am a Jr in high school, I plan on moving to Jamacia and living in a grass hut smoking herb all day. I don't understand what harm 9it would cause anyone if I had a few plants outside my hut and smoked all day and had no problems. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Danny on February 27, 2001 at 19:14:11 PT i love tha ganja smoke although sometimes out little green friend can be laced, it comes out of God's GREEN earth. To me, 100% of the reason non-smokers don't like tha dojah is because tha law, THE MAN, says it's wrong.///////////////////////##~~~ KEEP BLAZIN ALL [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by lefty on February 24, 2001 at 18:29:34 PT: wacky tobaccy i believe that making it legal is a great idea then it would be a controlled substance like alchohol besides getting high is fun i do it all the time [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: