Jamaican growers already have an association, and they want it legal.

Decriminalization is nice, but it still leaves the black market.

And I'm 100,000,000% less likely to get brutally gay bashed. I know where I'd rather spend my tourist dollars.

+1





Welcome!

You mean it wasn't legal before??

So many movies and characters have been characterized as ganja smokers through the decades. I guess some credit for that goes to Bob Marley.

My guess is that a small corrupt justice and police system liked to hang on to that little tidbit in order to use as a bargaining chip and threat over suspects of other crimes, and even against political foes. Hey....kinda like in all countries and states that don't have legal possession laws.

And, of course, the transactions are discreet.

No one is gonna mess with you in your own home, either.

I think that when someone from Jamrock who is a member of the LGBT community becomes SUPER famous, the tide will turn. It's got to be a superstar, though, and a musician with some compelling tracks will break through sooner than, say, an actor, politician or philanthropist.

I don't understand the WHY of it, either. Could it be an "island thing" I have to wonder--PR isn't front and center on this issue either.

I'd imagine social change happens at a glacial rate in a place like that.

I think what slows Jamrock down is the level of VIOLENCE. There is so much crime, so little opportunity, so many people eking out a living and barely getting by, so much economic emigration, so many who would prefer to stay on that "Island in the sun, willed to me by my father's hands" but they just can't afford it and it isn't safe.

When opportunity goes UP, crime goes down...but no one is motivated to invest in that beautiful land. It's a shame. There needs to be more going on there than the resort community life. And, anyone who goes there, if you don't look or sound the part, mon, you don't want to be wandering about on your own. It is just terrible how much crime is happening there now.

Though it's not extreme poverty so much as extreme inequality that seems to drive out-of-control crime rates.

seventies and continues to this day. Anyone with a good education knows they can do better elsewhere.

It's not that they want to leave, they just see more opportunity in UK, or (for those who cannot bear the damp) in Miami, in Hotlanta, in Houston (huge JA community there, you know, they have a very active foundation that throws some great parties and runs a scholarship program).

The rich can afford to live up in Stony Hill or Beverly Hills with private guards just inside their grille gates and so forth, and they can (and do) live elsewhere a good deal of the time.

There are many wonderful things about Jamaica. I just wish that there was more "plenty" for all.

more news at 11

Thanks for the thread, peoli.