Policy AnalysisThe Dangerous Drugs Act Amendment in Jamaica: Reviewing goals, implementation, and challenges
Section snippets
Background
In April 2015, the Government of Jamaica amended its drug law, the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA), to decriminalize cannabis possession, legalize home cultivation for medicinal and sacramental use, and create a new, licensed industry for medical cannabis and hemp.
With the Amendment to the DDA (“The Amendment”), Jamaica becomes the first country in the Western hemisphere to allow the use of cannabis for sacramental purposes, and one of few developing countries working to establish a regulated
Methods
To analyse the Amendment and identify the related prospects and challenges regarding its implementation, we proceed with (1) a review of what is currently known about cannabis access, use, and commerce in Jamaica, (2) an analysis of the Amendment and its accompanying regulations, comparing it with other medical cannabis regimes, and (3) a review of the progress of implementation of the regulatory framework, including which policy components have been decided and which others remain unfixed.
Illicit supply and trafficking
Stories from the media and other sources document Jamaica’s substantial trade in illicit cannabis exports (Jamaica Observer, 2013, Dyer, 2015a, Dyer, 2015b, Phillips, 2015). The US State Department reports in 2015 that Jamaica cultivated 15,000 ha of cannabis (Department of State, 2015), although previous research suggests that one cannot take such estimates at face value (Reuter, 1997, Thoumi, 2005).
Jamaica is rumoured to have thousands or tens of thousands of dedicated small-scale cannabis
Conclusion
Although it is far too early to evaluate whether the Amendment will (or even can) accomplish its economic or criminal justice-related goals, herein we have attempted an early assessment, drawing on the text of Amendment and interim regulations and on preliminary data relating to criminal justice outcomes, demographics, cannabis use, and market characteristics. More detailed assessments will be feasible as regulations are developed and outcomes observed.
Will the Amendment take a substantial bite
Acknowledgements
Authors were stationed in Kingston, Jamaica for 7 weeks during mid-2015, working on a research project for BOTEC Analysis at the behest of the Jamaican Government. Nothing in this research divulges any government or private information that was learned during our stay in Jamaica. Work during that project helped serve as a basis for this research. Authors would also like to thank Mark Kleiman, Beau Kilmer, and Greg Midgette for their insights.
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Issues in the establishment of a therapeutic cannabis market under Jamaica's Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 2015
2020, International Journal of Drug PolicyCitation Excerpt :The extent of international demand for Jamaican-produced cannabis remains uncertain. As of August 2020, the total dried cannabis exported under the interim CLA export measures amounted to approximately 500 kg (CVM TV, 2020). Five years after the passage of the DDAA, the economic gains of the reforms, and the intended impact on social equity, have yet to materialise, while the benefits in the criminal justice area (i.e., decriminalisation and home-growing) are more evident.
The implementation of medical ganja in Jamaica
2017, International Journal of Drug PolicyCitation Excerpt :Though the number of applicants may be less than envisaged, Davenport and Pardo (2015) observe that the size of the market will be significantly smaller than many seem to expect with Jones (2016) commenting that most small farmers had no interest in the new system and were likely to continue to grow and sell illegally. In the consultation stage for the DDAA much was made by government ministers that the new act would enfranchise the small farmers who had previously been subject to significant punitive action by law enforcement agencies, with Davenport and Pardo (2016) remarking that Jamaica’s introduction of tiered licenses for cultivators and processors highlights the government’s efforts to protect small farmers and businesses. Although the application fee of US$300 was lauded as being low to encourage small farmers to apply, Tier 1 farmers must also pay a US$2000 annual licence fee and provide a US$1000 security bond (CLA, 2016b).
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