JAMAICAN PM FINDS ARGUMENTS FOR DECRIMINALIZING GANJA FOR PRIVATE USE
'PERSUASIVE'

WASHINGTON - Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson said on Monday that
he found "persuasive" the arguments for decriminalizing the private use of
ganja, the local term for marijuana or cannabis.

A commission of inquiry in Jamaica has recommended decriminalizing ganja
for private use for adults, for medicinal purposes or as a religious sacrament.

Patterson, who is on a private visit to Washington, told reporters he
wanted parliament to discuss the commission's report in the autumn and the
government would then recommend whatever legislative amendments are needed.

Asked what he thought of the report, he said: "I find the recommendations
of the report persuasive."

"I want to make it absolutely clear that we are not considering legalizing
in the sense of making it legal for people to grow, to sell, to export. It
is for private use and of course it will have to be confined to adults," he
added.

Patterson said that as part of a decriminalization process, Jamaica would
have to take some diplomatic steps because of international treaties and
agreements it has signed.

"That process we intend to begin shortly," he added.

The United States, the main source of visitors for Jamaica's tourist
industry, is expected to oppose decriminalization but Patterson said
Washington had not conveyed any formal views on the proposals.

The tourist industry in Jamaica has suffered in the short term by the
unrest of early July, when 25 people were killed in clashes between
security forces and residents in the western neighborhoods of the capital
Kingston.

"But we feel pretty confident that we will be able to overcome it in the
medium and long term," Patterson added.