Ganja Industry: The People’s National Party (PNP) accused the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) administration of implementing policies that have been detrimental to the legal ganja industry.
President of the PNP, Mark Golding, reassured the nation that under his party’s leadership, a new dawn for the ganja industry is on the horizon. The PNP is committed to taking decisive steps to rebuild the sector, instilling hope and optimism in the hearts of the Jamaican people.
Ganja, a plant deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, is a symbol of pride and connection for the Rastafari community, musicians, and the nation at large. Its use is a testament to our rich heritage and cultural identity.
Still, the substance had been outlawed since colonial rule, and over the years, our security forces have pursued users relentlessly. Many of our citizens had done long stretches in prison for smoking ganja.
The Rastafari community suffered the most. The community had always used ganja as a sacrament and for medicinal purposes, among other uses.
In 2015, the Jamaican Government reformed the Dangerous Drugs Act, decriminalizing personal possession and use of ganja. The new law recognized Rastafari and their sacramental rights to cultivate and use ganja. It also created a platform on which a new medical cannabis industry could be built.
Golding passionately argued that the ganja industry is in dire need of an overhaul to create wealth opportunities for our small farmers. The current state of the sector is a barrier, shutting out these hardworking individuals who deserve our support and recognition.
“The lawful ganja industry has been ruined by poor policies and ineffective management by the Jamaica Labor Party Government. It needs a complete overhaul, and the PNP intends to give it that overhaul so that it can be a source of legitimate wealth creation for our farmers, especially small farmers, many of whom built the industry in the shadows and suffered oppression as a result of prohibition over 100 years until I and I change the thing in 2015 and made personal use of ganja no more an offense,” Golding said.
Mark Golding, President of the People’s National Party PNP)
Further, Mark Gold said, “We want to take it to the level because the space has opened up internationally for more initiative in that direction.”
He was speaking over the weekend at the official opening of the PNP St James Central constituency office in Montego Bay.