Dear Editor,
Recently, A J Nicholson, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, asserted that legalisation of marijuana is not on the Government's agenda. Are we to understand that the legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes is also not on the agenda? Is this a witty banter?
Since 2001, many discourses on the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana for medical purposes have occurred. Apparently, the ubiquitous discussions on the medical marijuana industry remain piffling. Implicitly, the minister's assertion serves to obfuscate the issue and scuttle the progress made so far rather than to fast-track appropriate legislations to support the potential industry.
Global trends indicate that many countries are deviating from the prohibition of marijuana through scientifically based drug policy reform. We still remain outside the starting block. Interestingly, the Obama Administration on 14th February 2014 has permitted the banking industry to do business with legal marijuana sellers, a move that could further legitimise the burgeoning industry. In Jamaica, anachronism prevails over logic regarding the economic and medicinal benefits of marijuana. Why are we tip-toeing on the legalisation of the medical marijuana industry?
Our emphasis should be on establishing an amalgam of academia, private sector and government research investment to evaluate how we can maximise the economic and scientific opportunities of medical marijuana. Over time, Jamaica could be transformed into an entrepreneurial hotspot through new scientific breakthroughs, creating new companies and wealth.
A paradigm shift is inevitable, which embraces a culture of risk-taking and openness to new ideas through innovation, to revitalise the economy. A recalibration of our growth model is necessary because it is disproportionately based on conventional thinking. Those countries performing well are relying more on non-conventional strategies to grow their economies.
While the medical marijuana industry may not be the panacea, it is palpable that it is part of the solution. Presently, we are at the mercy of multinational agencies' largesse, and hopefully, we do not become dependent on their financial legerdemain to solve our economic crisis. We cannot continue borrowing our way out of our economic woes. A major rethinking is required to grow our economy.
James A McNish
jamcnish@utech.edu.jm
Why tip-toeing on the medical marijuana industry?
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Recently, A J Nicholson, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, asserted that legalisation of marijuana is not on the Government's agenda. Are we to understand that the legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes is also not on the agenda? Is this a witty banter?
Since 2001, many discourses on the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana for medical purposes have occurred. Apparently, the ubiquitous discussions on the medical marijuana industry remain piffling. Implicitly, the minister's assertion serves to obfuscate the issue and scuttle the progress made so far rather than to fast-track appropriate legislations to support the potential industry.
Global trends indicate that many countries are deviating from the prohibition of marijuana through scientifically based drug policy reform. We still remain outside the starting block. Interestingly, the Obama Administration on 14th February 2014 has permitted the banking industry to do business with legal marijuana sellers, a move that could further legitimise the burgeoning industry. In Jamaica, anachronism prevails over logic regarding the economic and medicinal benefits of marijuana. Why are we tip-toeing on the legalisation of the medical marijuana industry?
Our emphasis should be on establishing an amalgam of academia, private sector and government research investment to evaluate how we can maximise the economic and scientific opportunities of medical marijuana. Over time, Jamaica could be transformed into an entrepreneurial hotspot through new scientific breakthroughs, creating new companies and wealth.
A paradigm shift is inevitable, which embraces a culture of risk-taking and openness to new ideas through innovation, to revitalise the economy. A recalibration of our growth model is necessary because it is disproportionately based on conventional thinking. Those countries performing well are relying more on non-conventional strategies to grow their economies.
While the medical marijuana industry may not be the panacea, it is palpable that it is part of the solution. Presently, we are at the mercy of multinational agencies' largesse, and hopefully, we do not become dependent on their financial legerdemain to solve our economic crisis. We cannot continue borrowing our way out of our economic woes. A major rethinking is required to grow our economy.
James A McNish
jamcnish@utech.edu.jm
Why tip-toeing on the medical marijuana industry?
-->