Jamaica NORML | PO Box 24, Laughlands, St Ann * Voice (876) 972-0817

... More | As we learn about them. In the meantime ... Also visit: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5092 for the latest.

... More | As we learn about them. In the meantime ... Visit: http://www.mapinc.org/dpr.htm

Organizations Supporting Access to Therapeutic Cannabis As Compiled by Patients Out of Time Lancet (UK) – 1995, 1998 Medical Association of Jamaica - 2001 Medical Cannabis Research Foundation (UK) – 2000 National Commission on Ganja, Jamaica - 2001 National Council on Drug Abuse, Jamaica - 2001 Preventive Medical Center, Netherlands - 1993 Schmerztherapeutisches Kolloquium (Society for Pain Therapists) Germany - 1998 Stichting Institute of Medical Marijuana, Netherlands - 1993 United Church of Jamaica and Cayman Islands – 2000 ... Visit: http://www.medicalcannabis.com/Grouplist.htm

Melanie Dreher, Jamaican Pregnancy Study ... the thousands of relevant studies on the medical efficacy of cannabis. ... effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neonates in rural Jamaica. ... DREHER'S JAMAICAN PREGNANCY STUDY More Suppression of Marijuana Research In the 1980s Melanie Dreher and colleagues at UMass Amherst began a longitudinal study to assess the well-being of infants and children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy. The researchers lived in rural Jamaican communities among the women they were studying. Thirty cannabis-using pregnant women were matched for age and socio-economic status with 30 non-users. Dreher et al compared the course of their pregnancies and their neo-natal outcomes, using various standard scales.

No differences were detected three days after birth. At 30 days the exposed babies did better than the non-exposed on all the scales and significantly better on two of the scales (having to do with autonomic stability and reflexes). Follow-up studies were conducted when the kids were four and five (just before entering school and after). The moms were defined as light users (1-10 spliffs per week), moderate (11-20), and heavy (21-70). Consumption of ganja tea was also taken into account. ... Visit: http://www.medicalcannabis.com/pregnancy.htm

Prenatal Marijuana Exposure and Neonatal... Social, medical, and obstetrical histories were determined via maternal interviews. Naturalistic observations of the women in their homes and communities ... Prenatal Marijuana Exposure and Neonatal Outcomes in Jamaica: An Ethnographic Study Melanie C. Dreher, PhD; Kevin Nugent, PhD; and Rebekah Hudgins, MA ABSTRACT. Objective. To identify neurobehavioral effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neonates in rural Jamaica. Design. Ethnographic field studies and standardized neurobehavior assessments during the neonatal period. Setting. Rural Jamaica in heavy-marijuana-using population. Participants. Twenty-four Jamaican neonates exposed to marijuana prenatally and 20 nonexposed neonates.

Measurements and main results. Exposed and nonexposed neonates were compared at 3 days and 1 month old, using the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale, including supplementary items to capture possible subtle effects. There were no significant differences between exposed and nonexposed neonates on day 3. At 1 month, the exposed neonates showed better physiological stability and required less examiner facilitation to reach organized states. The neonates of heavy-marijuana-using mothers had better scores on autonomic stability, quality of alertness, irritability, and self-regulation and were judged to be more rewarding for caregivers.

Conclusions. The absence of any differences between the exposed on nonexposed groups in the early neonatal period suggest that the better scores of exposed neonates at 1 month are traceable to the cultural positioning and social and economic characteristics of mothers using marijuana that select for the use of marijuana but also promote neonatal development. Pediatrics 1994;93:254-260; prenatal marijuana exposure, neonatal outcomes, Jamaica, Brazelton scale supplementary items. ... Visit: http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/medical/can-babies.htm

ajnag.com Advocates call for medical-marijuana as replacement industry With Jamaica in the economic doldrums and grappling with the ill-effects of the ... ajnag.com Advocates call for medical-marijuana as replacement industry With Jamaica in the economic doldrums and grappling with the ill-effects of the global financial crisis, some suggest the country needs to look seriously at what is arguably its most popular, albeit illegal, product to help plug the massive revenue shortfalls in the economy. August 2 at 12:06pm ... Visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ajnagcom/13281669791?v=feed&story_fbid=221560530012&ref=mf

Jamaica's ganja study By Pete Brady, Cannabis Culture - Sunday, August 25 2002 | National Commission of Ganja reports widespread support for freeing the island's sacred weed. Nugget of Jamaican love.Ganja was brought to the West Indies in the mid-19th century by East Indian laborers who settled in Guyana, Trinidad and Jamaica. In Jamaica, from the 1800's until the early years of the 20th century, ganja was an unregulated herb widely used as medicine, intoxicant, and religious sacrament. Even though it caused few medical or social problems, Judeo-Christian church groups and Jamaica's white ruling elite convinced legislators to criminalize it in 1913. The country later became a signatory to international anti-marijuana treaties. Prohibition has been a disaster for Jamaica. Tens of thousands of Jamaicans have been harassed, jailed and even killed due to enforcement of ganja laws. Yet, the island's climate, culture, and topography are ideal for ganja cultivation, and Jamaica has become famous for potent outdoor marijuana, reggae music, and herb-infused Rastafarian religion. In 1977, after decades of counterproductive attempts to stop Jamaicans from growing and using marijuana, the government set up an aptly-named "Joint Select Committee" to study ganja and make new policy recommendations.

The Committee rejected full legalization only because it did not believe Jamaica could legalize herb and still be in compliance with anti-narcotics treaties, but it unanimously concluded that "there was a substantial case for decriminalizing personal use of ganja." The Committee recommended "no punishment" for personal use of as much as two ounces of ganja by users on private premises. It recommended total legalization of medical marijuana. ... Visit: http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2407.html

Greener pastures? - JamaicaObserver.com In the United States - Jamaica's major trading partner - 13 states have legalised medical marijuana, and four - California, Colorado, New Mexico and Rhode ... Greener pastures? Advocates call for medical-marijuana as replacement industry By Julian Richardson Sunday, August 02, 2009 With Jamaica in the economic doldrums and grappling with the ill-effects of the global financial crisis, some suggest the country needs to look seriously at what is arguably its most popular, albeit illegal, product to help plug the massive revenue shortfalls in the economy. Marijuana is largely renowned as a recreational drug, and its usage is banned in most parts of the world. At the same time, the plant known for possessing medicinal compounds, is increasingly becoming a medically recommended drug in many territories. Marijuana-derived drugs have proven to be useful in treating inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma, bipolar disorders, and nausea among other ailments. ... Visit: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20090801T210000-0500_156542_OBS_GREENER_PASTURES__.asp

Erowid Cannabis Vault : Medical - Cannab... 'Proven: Cannabis is Safe Medicine', by Ian Williams Goddard ... [12] Ganja in Jamaica: A Medical Anthropological Study of Chronic Marijuana Use. 1975. ... Proven : Cannabis is Safe Medicine by Ian Williams Goddard igoddard@erols.com http://www.erols.com/igoddard In reaction to medical cannabis access referendums on the ballots in Arizona and California, former presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George Bush signed a letter stating that they "categorically oppose'' access to cannabis for its many proven therapeutic uses such as the prevention of blindness and epileptic seizures [1]. Their chief concern was that legal medical access would send the message that cannabis is safe. The presidents can, however, lay their safety concerns to rest because the scientific literature overwhelmingly confirms that cannabis is both an effective and safe medicine. ... In three major studies conducted in Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Greece, researchers have compared heavy long-term cannabis users with non-users and found no evidence of intellectual or neurological damage, no changes in personality, and no loss of the will to work or participate in society.

The Jamaican study states that, even as cannabis use in Jamaica "is pervasive" and is used "in heavier quantities with greater THC potency than in the U.S.," its use is "without deleterious social or psychological consequences." [12] ... Visit: http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_medical_info2.shtml

Official Steve Kubby Home Page During my stay, the Jamaican Cabinet met with the Minister of Health to debate allowing medical cannabis in Jamaica. A decision was made that there was too ... Medical Marijuana in Jamaica By Steve Kubby A soldier, armed with an assault rifle, steps onto the road and orders us to pull over. I quickly take one more toke and put out my spliff, briefly savoring the candlewood aroma of my Jamaican ganga, and mentally prepare to go into warrior mode. As soon as we stop, I hear a loud, belligerent voice demanding to know if there are guns or drugs in our vehicle - a gleaming white BMW 645, that obviously brought us this unwanted attention. Before I can say anything, my host speaks up and says he has a 9 mm automatic pistol. He then disarms the weapon and hands the pistol and a fully loaded clip to the soldier. "Where's your permit?" barks the soldier. "I left it at home," says my host. The soldier becomes furious and threatens to impound the car and drag him off to jail. Instead of responding, my host turns, leans into the car and smiles at me. "He's just trying to squeeze some money out of me, don't worry," he quietly tells me. My host dials up the Speaker of the House, the number two man in the government and puts him on speakerphone. ... Visit: http://www.kubby.com/index4.html

Ganja Law Reform in Jamaica March 12, 2008 – 8:03 am Posted in Cannabis Policy Reform, International news, Medical Cannabis, Peace & Inspiration | Headline: March 11.2008 – Spliff Society – Jamaica Considers Calls To Decriminalize Ganja- When you think of ganja, you think of Jamaica – famous for righteous reggae vibrations, beautiful beaches and mountainside groves of marijuana. However, Cannabis (marijuana, ganja, pot) is still illegal in Jamaica, even as ganja consciousness pervades its’ culture and draws vacationers from around the world seeking serenity at laid-back ganja-friendly resorts. In 2003, a government appointed “Ganja Commission” recommended decriminalization (small fines for users; jail for dealers), but the prospect of losing its’”anti-drug certification” from the United States and resulting economic sanctions caused the government to continue the prohibition. This year, with the Jamaican Labour Party in power and the island’s court’s clogged with marijuana-related cases, there is a real possibility of reform.

As ganja use has been so prevalent in Jamaican culture, it has been a subject of study by researchers seeking to understand Cannabis use in real-world situations. One very interesting example comes from Dr. Melanie Dreher (now Dean of the Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago), who spent years of observing the dynamics of Jamaican women, motherhood, cultural taboos against cocaine and cultural support of Cannabis. Indeed, the “Roots Daughters”, respected pillars of Jamaican family and community, are brewers of ”Ganja Tea”, beneficial both physically and spiritually. ... Visit: http://cannabistv.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/ganja-law-reform-in-jamaica/

Steve Kubby: Medical Marijuana in Jamaica March 4, 2009 Jamaica’s incredibly medicinal sativa strains have been badly polluted by indicas from Europe. Part of my mission in Jamaica was to determine if these incredibly valuable medicinal strains still exists. Jamaican have used these strains medically for hundreds of years, but the lure of quicker flowering and more expensive indica strains, has been devastating to the old Landrace strains that had been carefully bred for medical properties. ... Visit: http://highboldtage.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/steve-kubby-medical-marijuana-in-jamaica/

Cannabis and Present-Day Medical Product... Present day Cannabis Medical Products ... 20.6 - JAMAICA: [See Pictures] JAMAICA, THE LAND OF GENTLE BREEZES. AND MEDICAL CANNABIS: ... Chapter 20 PRESENT-DAY CANNABIS MEDICINES [COLLECTABLES AND ANTIQUE FACTS] "Medical Marihuana has NO Medical Uses, None what-So-Ever" "Those who think that it does ---- Well They're in Denial, In Denial" --[San Jose Narc, screaming into the radio] JAMAICA, THE LAND OF GENTLE BREEZES AND MEDICAL CANNABIS: When one thinks of Jamaica, one usually thinks of travel, tourism, and white sandy beaches. However, it is now also gaining more and more attention as the land where (while still illegal) Cannabis medicines are beginning to flourish. One can say that, unlike the United States, Jamaica "Politically Speaking," is taking a more enlightened view towards the subject of legitimate medical research. And as anyone with any knowledge of our present-day political situation (with regards to Medical Cannabis) knows; "Politics Is Everything". ... Visit: http://antiquecannabisbook.com/chap20/Jamaica.htm

ajnag - Cannabis Lifestyle Network > Cannabis TV > Videos Categories Featured TV Soul Majestic - California Reggae Band Info: Description; Soul Majestic’s musical recipe is not one whipped up by corporate interests for mass production of a cheap product to force feed the population, but one handed down from ancestors and elders, and developed through the process of sharing. ... Visit: http://ajnag.com/tv/view/6365/soul-majestic-california-reggae-band

Filling the cannabis gap in Britian - Diane Abbott - Sunday, December 23, 2007 | Most people associate cannabis with Rastafarianism and cannabis growing with countries like Jamaica. So I was interested to hear a report on the BBC this week, which suggested that Britain might actually have become a net exporter of cannabis. Traditionally Britain has imported most of its cannabis. There were, of course, always people who grew cannabis for personal use. This ranged from the odd straggly pot plant to rows of rows of cannabis plants carefully grown in a loft under special lamps. But cannabis has never been commercially grown in Britain. That has all changed. In the last six years the cultivation of cannabis as a cash crop has grown exponentially. This is not done outdoors. We have too little sunshine to make that viable.

Instead, the commercial growers use houses bought specially, in areas where housing is cheap. The houses have their curtains drawn tight all day long. And every room is given over to growing cannabis. Growing cannabis commercially is not just confined to inner-city areas. There are 51 police forces in Britain. Forty-seven of them have reported commercial cannabis cultivation. In Glasgow, Scotland, police have closed down 61 cannabis factories in nine months. In (largely rural) Derbyshire they have closed 200 factories in a year. And in London, the Metropolitan police have closed down over 1,500 factories in the past two years - three a day. But the commercial cannabis growers that actually get shut down are the tip of the iceberg. On the other hand, it is argued that the new strains of cannabis being commercially cultivated indoors in artificial conditions in Britain and the rest of Europe are actually stronger and more toxic than the cannabis grown more naturally in the open air in Jamaica and elsewhere. But the continued rise of commercial production in Britain proves that pressuring poor countries like Jamaica and Morocco to burn their crops is pointless. Unless something is done about demand, other suppliers (including domestic producers) will emerge to fill the gap. ... All the medical evidence shows that it less harmful than alcohol. ... than the cannabis grown more naturally in the open air in Jamaica and elsewhere. ... Visit: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/html/20071222T210000-0500_130640_OBS_FILLING_THE_CANNABIS_GAP_IN_BRITIAN_.asp

Marijuana in Jamaica; The use of marijuana in Jamaica is wide spread. From youths trying to be in on the in crowd, to Rastas who claim they use it for religious purposes. ... A Little Background. Very few issues are more topical and heated than this, the issue of marijuana in Jamaica. Some will argue for its legalization, while others vehemently oppose it; each case for varying reasons. Otherwise called Ganja, Marijuana was brought to Jamaica in the late 1800's by the indentured East Indian labourers. They were brought here to work on the plantations after slavery was ended. Today, although it is illegal in the country, Marijuana's cultivation is still very much alive and well. In fact, from all indications, it is perhaps at an all time high. ... Visit: http://www.my-island-jamaica.com/marijuana_in_jamaica.html

How strict is Jamaica on their marijuana... Yes, we know its illegal and would be taking a risk, but how can tourists ... as long as your staying at certain resorts you will be okay buying off the local ... How strict is Jamaica on their marijuana laws? Yes, we know its illegal and would be taking a risk, but how can tourists "safely" smoke while visiting? Are the police quick to arrest violators? Has anyone had past experieces smoking in Jamaica? Best Answer - Chosen by Voters as long as your staying at certain resorts you will be okay buying off the local people. They usually go around on kayaks or raft selling jewlery and trinkits, but just ask them for some smoke and you will be happy. We stayed at Sandals Royal Caribbean for our honeymoon and got some awesome purple haze special ordered for us, from the mountains, ask for "Tony Montana"....lol ... Visit: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070525180604AA676CN

Ganja in Jamaica It is assumed that marijuana came to Jamaica with the Indians. This also explains why in Jamaica a Hindi word is used for marijuana, namely ganja. ... Boekhout van Solinge, Tim (1996), Ganja in Jamaica. Amsterdams Drug Tijdschrift, nr 2, December 1996, pp. 11-14. English translation by Jeanette Roberts. © Copyright 1996, 2000 Tim Boekhout van Solinge. All rights reserved. [Dutch] Ganja in Jamaica by Tim Boekhout van Solinge | Jamaica is a country that appeals to one's imagination. The tropical island in the Caribbean Sea, once mainly famous for its rum, is nowadays more associated with reggae, Rastas, and ganja, i.e., marijuana. No other country supposedly has a higher consumption of cannabis than Jamaica. Myth or reality? Tim Boekhout van Solinge was recently in Jamaica and investigated this issue. Jamaica has a longstanding reputation for its ganja, marijuana of international top quality. In fact, Jamaica is a country with a traditional use of cannabis, dating back some 150 years. Jamaica's traditional cannabis use took on mythical proportions in the course of the 1970s, not lastly due to the emergence of Bob Marley. This reggae singer from the ghettos of Jamaica's capital, Kingston, was the first Third World artist, who achieved world-wide recognition. The hippie movement of the West embraced Bob Marley and many other Rasta singers.

Apart from preaching peace & love, many Jamaican artists also called for the legalisation of cannabis in their reggae songs. These artists did not only sing about ganja, many of them were also passionate smokers. Reggae artists (but not each and every single one) quite often like to light up a spliff or two during studio sessions. Reggae music, the message of the texts that often could not be seen independently of Rastafarian religious beliefs, combined with the use of cannabis... 'Jamaica, reggae, Rastas and ganja', as a whole appealed to the imagination, and to some extent determined the picture that was formed of Jamaica. Of course, things are not that simple. The population of Jamaica does not consist of Rastafarians alone - they form an estimated 5 percent of the population - and not every Rastafarian smokes ganja. On the other hand, ganja is also widely used by non-Rastafarians. ... Visit: http://www.cedro-uva.org/lib/boekhout.ganja.en.html

drugpolicy.org > News > Jamaica to Decriminalize Marijuana - Mon, March 31, 2003 | Two years ago Jamaica’s National Ganja Commission recommended the decriminalization of marijuana for private use. The recommendation came after months of hearings and fell short of full-scale regulation aimed at undermining the illicit market in illegal drugs. In addition to recommending decriminalization, the Commission also called for education programs to reduce demand and increased efforts to eradicate large-scale marijuana cultivation. Sensitive to U.S. opposition, the Commission recommended that Jamaica seek out diplomatic support for its position throughout the international community. Upon release of the Commission’s recommendation the U.S. government has made it very clear to Jamaican authorities that it is adamantly opposed to any changes in Jamaica's marijuana laws. ... Visit: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/03_31_03jamaica.cfm

All Jamaica - site for Vacation Travel -... Jamaica travel information. Holy Smoke - ganja - marijuana. Sinsemilla. Burr, Cotton, and Lamb's Breath. Facts of a Jamaican vacation Holy Smoke - ganja - marijuana Ganja (marijuana) is an omnipresent fact of a Jamaican vacation. The weed, which grows throughout the island, has been cultivated for its narcotic effect since 1845, when indentured Indian laborers brought the first seeds from Asia. Its use spread rapidly among the plantation workers. Since it induced indolence and reduced productivity, it was outlawed. Nonetheless, islanders have used it ever since. Today, an estimated 20% to 40% of Jamaicans smoke it on a regular basis (Life expectancy in Jamaica is 75 years). As such, in 2001 a government commission recommended that marijuana be legalized for private use and possession.

Ganja use crosses all social strata; it is no less common for friends of the highest income levels to offer guests an after-dinner 'tote' than it is for the urban poor, who often smoke spliffs the size of bazookas. Many Jamaicans don't see ganja as a drug but as a medicinal and religious herb. To Rastafarians it is a source of wisdom. For Jamaica's impoverished farmers, growing 'poor man's friend' is one of the few sure ways of earning money. The remote interior provides ideal conditions; the five-lobed plant thrives in Jamaica's rich red soil. And the main export market - the USA - is nearby. During the 1980s heyday, the annual wholesale value of Jamaica's ganja crop exceeded US$1.5 billion, and the trade had tacit approval at the government level. Nonetheless, since 1986 the Jamaican government has cracked down on drug trading at the behest of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The DEA claims that Jamaica's ganja production has fallen by 80%, and that exports have fallen by two-thirds. The strongest varieties are Burr, Cotton, and Lamb's Breath, which are marketed in the USA as sinsi (short for sinsemilla, Spanish for seedless). ... Visit: http://www.all-jamaica.com/jamaica/marijuana.html

WeBeHigh.com Where to buy weed in Negril... Worldwide Marijuana travel Guide with information about Marijuana prices all over the world ! Check out WBH's stoners' guide to the world! Negril Updated: 25/09/2006 Smoking tolerance level: 4

Legislation: Ganja is in fact illegal in Jamaica. Unless you are making trouble, you would rarely ever be hasseled. There are extremely rare traffic search stops between Montego bay and Negril but you'd be more likely to be struck by lightning. I often stop on the way to Negril to buy buds from an old friend.

Law enforcement: Do not huff around police! This gives them an invitation to latch onto you for some bribe money. I\'d rather spend my greenbacks on buds. Security gaurds at the resorts will generally look the other way and most often will sell you buds if you ask. The whole town exists because the tourists dump so much money there. The Jamaican people generally understand that it is important to make us want to come back and spend more money next winter. I'm sure if you were smoking ganja on the beach and cops were coming, the security guards would try to warn you to protect you.

Generally you can feel free to blaze in public streets, beaches, taxi cabs, or at bars, hotels, you name it. If you see the police coming, put your joint out and chill. If you do actually get caught up somehow (it can happen), you have a good chance of bribing your way out of the situation. They might laugh at a twenty dollar bill (USD), but if you happened to have a Benjamin in your pocket, you've probably got a really good chance of still catching your flight home on time.

Where to buy marijuana in Negril: This section doesn't really need to be filled out, because you can not go through Negril without getting offered "the best" ganja by various Originals. This is especially true if you fit the description (I'm a 23 year old male a.k.a. target). I had a guy put ganja in my hand while my grandmama was sittin in the next seat watching. Notice how it wasn't ME watching the dude put the ganja in GRANDMAMA's hand. Anyways, mom was there too and she made me give it back. For a fee, you can go on a tour of a plantation. According to a local farmer who goes by the name of Dr. Fabulous, "when you are on my plantation, you can point at a plant, and I will just go break a stick off and give it to you, no charge, just tell you to put it in your bag like that. Yeah mon." Some people who have taken tours with other farmers in the past have said its not worth the twenty bucks a head it will cost you.

You have to a be a very stern, confident, "i know what the fuck the deal is" type of negotiator, or you'll end up paying American 'dro prices for some Jamaican Scwuag (like some of our fathers would probably do because they havn't bought weed for like 17 years, but they are in Jamica mon! ....When in Rome....) . Be sure to practice the art of walking away, especially from the first two or three dealers you talk to. You wouldn't buy the first car you saw, would you?? Trust me, if they seem offended or angry that you're walking away from the deal right now, you could ALWAYS come back later and get the same deal or a better one. Money talks. Bullshit walks.

So enough about HOW to buy ganja, the question was WHERE? Answer: Anywhere. If you smoke, you dont need to know where to buy it, it will find you. another report added: "It will quite literally find you. Scores of young children will try to sell you colas as you drive/walk around. Taxi drivers, wait staff, housekeepers, store owners, hookers, bums, and anyone in Rasta colors are good sources. Just start some small talk to get whatever it is you want in Negril."

Marijuana prices: $20 could get you two grams or an ounce, depending on your bartering skills. Although the $20 ounce might be brown and seedy. It is more work to clean but all the stuff is good in my opinion. Break open the brown buds and they are still crystallish - this aint no brown Mexican brick weed. Beware of free "gifts" and stuff like that. After you recieve a gift from a Jamaican hustler, he will harass the hell out of you for money. Remeber, there is no free joint......... haha, Just kidding! In my opinion, if you tell the guy that you don't want any because you already have "a whole bunch" and he proceeds to smoke a joint with you, you don't actually have to pay him when he starts asking you for money. But have conscience, my friend, have conscience.

another reporter added: "Highly variable. All sales are bartered. Generally the crafty Jamaican street hawker will start with a ridiculous figure like $100/bud to see if you'll bite. Just say "Too high for my budget" and start to walk away and the price will begin to fall. In Negril buds are usually sold as a cola without any reference to weight. A cola the size of a baby's arm can be had for as little as $5 (rare) but if you pay more than $20 you have been had."

Brands: Monkey Skunk is to ganja as Red Stripe is to beer. I watched one huslter count out on his fingers for me, "I've got Moneky Skunk, AK-47, Kush, blah, and blah". I don't even remember the last two. Names? In 90% of the world they are absolutely meaningless. I don't mess with names.

another reporter added: "Brands change frequently, a couple of years ago \"Alaska\" bud was the cats\' meow. Who knows what it will be this week! You will not find the old landrace Jamaican \"Lambs Breath\" or any other pure sativa any more. Now ALL Jamaican is composed of indica or hybrids. Indica yields more product per plant and the buds are denser and form tight colas forming a more attractive product. Since sativa is such a low yielder, must grow for such a long season, and has small airy buds, it has been abandoned by growers for the higher yielding, less detectable indicas. Unfortunately, the current indica buds found in Jamaica today are a very grim shadow of the old Jamaican sativa strains of the 60's and 70's. That said, the Jamaican indica/hybrids of today are still somewhat superior to American hydro strains. "

More information: Many small cafe owners sell "space cake". A few have even adopted the Cambodian nomenclature "happy cake". Be warned that it is usually very potent and will usually put the most avid smoker down for an all night snooze. The wise will start with half of a small cake and eat the rest in a couple of hours if they still think they can handle it.

There are basically two areas to stay in Negril. There is 7 mile beach and then there are the cliffs further down. The cliffs have a little more privacy and i prefer them but if you like to get out on the beach for concerts, water sports, dancing, etc you might prefer to find accomodations on the beach. All inclusive resorts cater more to the family tourist set and are less friendly to stoners (they are also far more expensive than smaller bungalow providers and local eateries). ... Visit: http://www.webehigh.com/city/detail.php?CITYID=2150

Jamaica Explores Legalizing Marijuana | (03-01-2008) KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Jamaica is considering the legalization of marijuana, a drug revered by members of the island's large Rastafarian population who say smoking it is part of their religion. A seven-member government commission has been researching possible changes to the Caribbean nation's anti-drug laws, which some police complain are clogging courts and jails with marijuana-related cases, a government official said Friday.

"We have discussed it, and we are preparing a report to present to the prime minister," said Deputy Prime Minister Kenneth Baugh. In 2003, a government commission recommended legalizing marijuana in small amounts for personal use. But lawmakers never acted, saying legalization might entail loss of their country's U.S. anti-drug certification. Countries that lose it face economic sanctions. A U.S. State Department report Friday said that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana in the Caribbean and a major hub for drugs bound for the United States.

Members of the Rastafarian movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s out of anger over the oppression of blacks, have long lobbied for the legalization of the drug that they say brings them closer to the divine. There are an estimated 700,000 Rastafarians in the world, most of them among Jamaica's 2.6 million people. ... Visit: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/01/international/i095155S86.DTL&hw=drugs&sn=004&sc=386

cannabisnews.com: Jamaica Mulls Legalizing Marijuana - Associated Press - Source: Las Vegas Sun - 26 Jan 2001 | KINGSTON, Jamaica - Sitting in a small shop in Dunkirk, one of Kingston's poorest neighborhoods, Junior Spence tells a tale he describes as incredible: one day he w arrested by police -- for smoking marijuana! "I could not believe it," said the 23-year-old, who months later remains befuddled over the arrest that landed him in jail for a few days and cost him a $20 fine. "Everybody smokes ganja. The police never hassle them!" Spence found out the hard way that's not always true. Even though "ganja" is revered by Jamaica's famed Rastafarians and smoked regularly by many ordinary Jamaicans, it remains illegal. One critic, Sen. Trevor Munroe, is sponsoring a motion in parliament to study marijuana's medical value, examine how widely it is used and allow possession of small amounts. That would offend Washington, which considers Jamaican marijuana an American problem because much of it ends up in the United States. The proposal's chances appear slim because the government opposes it. But it has spawned debate. ... Visit: http://cannabisnews.com/news/2/thread2612.shtml

Jamaica considers legalizing marijuana - CNN - August 17, 2001 | KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- In the heart of Kingston, about a dozen men stand in an open-air emporium stacking long buds of marijuana even though the crop is illegal in Jamaica. "High-grade, the best ... smell it," says a dreadlocked 27-year-old Rastafarian at the "Luke Lane" market, who gives his name only as Toro as he holds a bud in the air and beckons to a passer-by. Sale completed, he lights a joint of rolled marijuana and smiles. These days, he has a lot to be happy about.

A government commission recommended Thursday that marijuana be legalized for personal use by adults -- a move the government will likely endorse despite opposition from the United States, which has spent millions to eradicate the crop on the Caribbean island. "(Marijuana's) reputation among the people as a panacea and a spiritually enhancing substance is so strong that it must be regarded as culturally entrenched," said the commission's report. The National Commission on Ganja -- as marijuana is known here _ also said Jamaica should allow the use of marijuana for religious purposes. This is important to the Rastafarian minority, who worship deceased Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie as a prophet and use marijuana as a sacrament.

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson last year appointed the commission, which included academics and doctors. So far, he and elected officials have not publicly commented on the report. But Ralston Smith, an aide to Patterson, said: "My gut feeling is that the commission's recommendations will be followed." ... are thought to have brought marijuana to Jamaica in. the 19th century. ... Visit: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/caribbean/jamaica-marijuana.htm

Marijuana in Jamaica - by Oyster Staff on July 27, 2009 | Marijuana in Jamaica is as ubiquitous as braids on the beach, or hats with fake dreadlocks. We’ve been offered it by cab drivers, lifeguards, dudes on jet skis, and numerous musicians. We’ve seen hotel guests smoke it on tennis courts, on their balconies, and on the beach. Though ganja in Jamaica is easy to find, be prepared for a wide range of quality and prices. You can buy large quantities at cheap prices, but dealers will try to gouge you for a couple of joints or a dime bag. Also note that although weed in Jamaica is generally tolerated, it is technically illegal, so it’s awfully easy for policemen to bust tourists for a quick fine.

During a day trip to Bob Marley’s birthplace, about an hour outside Ocho Rios, we were inundated with marijuana sales pitches. Men pushed joints into our taxi’s windows the moment we pulled into the parking lot, insisting the only proper way to pay our respects would be to spark up at Bob’s grave site. Later, they took us on a tour of their nearby “plantation.” Some of our favorite hotels within driving distance of the Marley Museum and all its smoky fun are Gran Bahia Principe Jamaica, Sandals Grande Beach, Moxons Beach Club, Royal Plantation and Jamaica Inn. Also know that herb-free visitors can easily avoid marijuana if they so choose. Jamaica is, after all, one of the most family-friendly islands in the Caribbean. ... Visit: http://blog.oyster.com/marijuana-in-jamaica-728/

Marijuana and Medicine - Chapter 3; Ganja in Jamaica is a unit of the Disparities in Law and Power project ... Saturday, August 8, 2009 | FIRST, DO NO HARM: CONSEQUENCES OF MARIJUANA USE AND ABUSE CHAPTER 3: First, Do No Harm: Consequences of Marijuana Use and Abuse Primum non nocere. This is the physician's first rule: whatever treatment a physician prescribes to a patient - first, that treatment must not harm the patient. The most contentious aspect of the medical marijuana debate is not whether marijuana can alleviate particular symptoms, but rather the degree of harm associated with its use. This chapter thus explores the negative health consequences of marijuana use, first with respect to drug abuse, then from psychological perspective, and finally from a physiological perspective.

The Marijuana "High" The most commonly reported effects of smoked marijuana are a sense of well-being or euphoria and increased talkativeness and laughter alternating with periods of introspective dreaminess followed by lethargy and sleepiness (see reviews by Adams and Martin I 996, and Hall 1994 and 1998 1, 58, 59). A characteristic feature of a marijuana "high" is a distortion in the sense of time associated with deficits in short-term memory and learning. A marijuana smoker typically has a sense of enhanced physical and emotional sensitivity' including a feeling of greater interpersonal closeness. The most obvious behavioral abnormality displayed by someone under the influence of marijuana is difficulty in carrying on an intelligible conversation, perhaps because of an inability to remember what was just said even a few words earlier.

The Link Between Medical Use and Drug Abuse Almost everyone who spoke or wrote to the IOM study team about the potential harms of the medical use of marijuana felt that it would send the wrong message to children and teenagers. They stated that information about the harms of marijuana is undermined by claims that marijuana might have medical value. Yet, many of our powerful medicines are also dangerous medicines. These two facets of medicine -effectiveness and risk - are inextricably linked. ... Visit: http://www.rism.org/isg/dlp/ganja/analyses/Marijuana%20and%20Medicine%203a.html

High Times > News >> Jamaica Explores Legalizing Marijuana Sat, Mar 01, 2008 | KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaica is considering the legalization of marijuana, a drug revered by members of the island's large Rastafarian population who say smoking it is part of their religion. A seven-member government commission has been researching possible changes to the Caribbean nation's anti-drug laws, which some police complain are clogging courts and jails with marijuana-related cases, a government official said Friday.

"We have discussed it, and we are preparing a report to present to the prime minister," said Deputy Prime Minister Kenneth Baugh. In 2003, a government commission recommended legalizing marijuana in small amounts for personal use. But lawmakers never acted, saying legalization might entail loss of their country's U.S. anti-drug certification. Countries that lose it face economic sanctions.

A U.S. State Department report Friday said that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana in the Caribbean and a major hub for drugs bound for the United States. Members of the Rastafarian movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s out of anger over the oppression of blacks, have long lobbied for the legalization of the drug that they say brings them closer to the divine. ... Visit: http://hightimes.com/news/ht_admin/3949

Hilarous Jamaican Pot Smuggling Attempt ... How to NOT smuggle marijuana from Jamaica to Canada. Its hilarious! ... ... Visit: http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/6/hilarous-jamaican-pot-smuggling-attempt-from-1979-768979.html

Jamaica Gleaner News - Marijuana - What role in Jamaica's future? published: Monday, June 23, 2008 | The Editor, Sir: HealthDay Reporter, Steven Reinberg recently wrote an article entitled 'Marijuana May Shrink Parts of the Brain'. According to him, researchers have found that long-term use of the drug can cause significant brain injury, affect memory and result in early psychotic symptoms. I believe that the utilisation of nature's gift of marijuana is a great way to gain some sort of economic stability in Jamaica. It is my belief that if marijuana was legalised it could help in providing economic stability in Jamaica. We need to utilise nature's gifts such as marijuana, cassava, and so forth.

It is common knowledge that Jamaica produces some of the best grade of marijuana in the region. This will explain the overwhelming demand on the market for it. I am not writing as a user or a producer of marijuana; in fact. I do not smoke, and I never will, but one can't help but notice the overall impact that legalisation would have on our economy. One can argue that this issue is bigger than the Jamaican government or the Jamaican people, and we would face many challenges in regards to its legalisation from countries such as the United States, England and so forth. ... Visit: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080623/letters/letters5.html

Also more International resources > here < and Forums > here < or just page down and Learn more >>>