GANJA DECRIMINALISATION

Dear Editor,

I note with interest, the remarks of the solicitor general as reported
in your issue of December 11.

It appears that Mr Hylton did not have the benefit of my published
remarks concerning the decriminalisation of ganja in Jamaica (West
Indian Law Journal, Vol 27, May 2002) in which I dealt with the US
government policy and decriminalisation.

Decriminalisation of ganja for personal use in private would in no way
breach any of our international treaty obligations based on the
interpretation of the treaties.

The solicitor general seems unaware of the decriminalisation
regulations in many other countries which are parties to the three
conventions to which he has referred.

The question of decriminalisation of ganja for personal use by adults
in private is a matter of policy for government.

Dr Oswald G Harding,

Senior Research Fellow, UWI, Mona,

Kingston