G2K Alando Terrelonge (right)
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Generation 2000 (G2K), has hailed the amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act which took effect on Wednesday as progressive.
Legal advisor of G2K Alando Terrelonge said, “It is a victory for social justice” citing that “for too long, we have criminalized what is largely a victimless crime.”
He said the previous law was “oppressive and outdated.”
“The amendment to the law is significant as young men with small amounts of marijuana will no longer be arrested and carted off to prison until they are granted bail. They will no longer be fingerprinted and shackled by criminal records which make it impossible for them to get certain jobs, to travel overseas, to access the farm work program, or to migrate when family members abroad file for them,” Terrelonge said.
The organization further hailed the announcement as a victory for religious rights and freedoms guaranteed under the constitution as special provisions have been made for the Rastafarian community to use marijuana as a religious sacrament, and by individuals for their own private personal use.
It noted that, “The persistent criminalizing of marijuana over the years has retarded a viable industry for Jamaica’s economic growth and development. The amendments to our laws will no longer impede scientific research into the benefits of medicinal marijuana, and as a result, Jamaica now stands to gain immensely from decriminalizing ganja.”
Read the full story at jamaicaobserver.com
