A Unique Jamaican Ganja Experience: Chatting With Green Stripe Naturals CEO Wayne Isaacs
Published October 02, 2019 | By Javier Hasse If there
BY PRECIANNE MILLER
Cannabis, known locally as ganja, originated as a remedial herb and gained prominence in ancient medicine for centuries. Despite its extensive history, for decades it has been classified as a dangerous drug in the eyes of international regulatory bodies and legislation. This includes the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO), where cannabis is characterized as a narcotic drug in the three major drug control conventions:
Cannabis was also declared a Schedule 1 drug in 1970 under the US Controlled Substances Act, which classifies it as having no currently accepted medicinal use and a high potential for abuse. However, with advocacy for the plant at its highest, the legal statutes surrounding cannabis are undergoing major changes in favour of loosening restrictions globally.
Jamaica’s Journey TOWARDS LEGALISATION
With progress steadily taking place overseas, what are the laws that have been implemented to govern cannabis in Jamaica?
The first steps taken by the Government to deliberate the decriminalization of cannabis included a national commission conducted in 2000 that was led by Professor Barry Chevannes, then dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at The University of the West Indies.
The results were then shared in a 2001 report that showed public support for the decriminalization of cannabis for private use. However, this sentiment did not translate into legal reform until 2015, under the amended Dangerous Drugs Act.
So What Do You Need to Know?
Possession and Cultivation
Sacramental Purposes
It is important to note the position of the Ministry of Health on the use of cannabis, which is confined to medicinal use and not recreational use. The ministry also does not encourage the smoking of cannabis, even for medical use, as this method is considered a health hazard.
With regard to the different methods of consumption, the Ministry of Health encourages the use of topical solutions, oral administrations as well as ingestion, such as capsules made from extracts of cannabis. However, the use of edibles is excluded in any form.
Who are the Regulatory Bodies?
The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) was established in 2015 and operates independently of the Ministry of Health. The CLA focuses on the growth, development and orderly regulation of a legal cannabis and hemp industry in Jamaica geared towards medical, therapeutic, and scientific purposes.
The CLA also issues licences and permits for the handling of cannabis, including the cultivation, transportation, processing and retail of cannabis-derived products for medical, scientific and therapeutic purposes. However, it does not have jurisdiction over religious use, with the Ministry of Justice overseeing this area of responsibility.
Under the Ministry of Health, the Medicinal Cannabis Unit (MCU) was established to enforce the amendments made in the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2015 and to oversee the implementation of medicinal cannabis regulations and guidelines.
The MCU is responsible for the registration and regulation of all cannabis and cannabis-related products (including hemp) as well as cannabis products for medicinal use — whether produced locally or internationally. This covers all derivatives with less than one percent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), — which are pharmaceutically acceptable, rather than the plant material.
THC is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.
Credit: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/ BY PRECIANNE MILLER
Published October 02, 2019 | By Javier Hasse If there
Isaacs discusses the international partnership he forged to enter the market, as well as his lessons learned, business strategies and goals for the future.
Isaacs discusses the international partnership he forged to enter the market, as well as his lessons learned, business strategies and goals for the future.
Isaacs discusses the international partnership he forged to enter the market, as well as his lessons learned, business strategies and goals for the future.
Last weekend I had the great honor of attending the Global Health Catalyst Summit at Harvard Medical School as part of the Jamaica delegation. The Jamaica delegation was represented by notable Jamaicans such as the Honorable Audley Shaw, Minister of Industries, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Henry Lowe, Dr. Lorenzo Gordon, and Dr. Julius Garvey (son of Jamaican National Hero Marcus Garvey.
Article by: Marlon Madden – May 23, 2019 One Canadian
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