JAMAICA: COMMISSION GIVES THUMBS UP TO LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

KINGSTON -- A government commission recommended Thursday that marijuana be
legalized for personal use by adults -- a move the government probably will
endorse despite opposition from the United States, which has spent millions
to eradicate the crop on the Caribbean island.

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.