Cannabis Farm Tours In Jamaica Are A Dream Vacation

Jamaica Wants A Piece Of The Pot Pie

Jamaican Cannabis Plantation Tours - A Dream Vacation Destination from CannabisNet on Vimeo.

While the rest of the world recognizes Jamaica as ganja central, they never really enjoyed this reputation. Through the years, the government has had to enforce drastic drug laws and has spent millions of dollars in public education to clean up its rep.

But Jamaica is still a major cannabis supplier for the United States and the strong international recognition of its Rastafarian beliefs made famous by Bob Marley makes overcoming its distinction as marijuana capital of the world challenging to say the least. However, Jamaicans are now realizing that money does grow on trees.

Jamaica has been quietly watching from the sidelines, and upon learning that California and Colorado are earning billions from ganja, they are now more accepting of their worldwide green image. Last year, Jamaica already decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis and just recently they also legalized medical cannabis. The primary goal of Jamaica though, is to set itself apart as a wellness tourism destination since they believe that it could be the ultimate cash cow.

This could be a good move: Jamaica suffers from having one of the lowest economic growth rates in the world which is ironic considering many of our most successful celebrities come from there. They’ve already done what’s needed to save the economy and they are now seeing the potential of how marijuana can help them in the long run, primarily in the financial front. No one is really sure how the Jamaica plans to operate a legal cannabis industry. According to the United Nations Convention on Drugs, federal legalization of any drugs is still illegal. However, with the United States and Canada inching closer to legalization, it seems Jamaica just wants a piece of the pot pie too.

But aside from tourism, the government also wants to establish the foundation of a successful marijuana industry in Jamaica. They want to be able to manufacture top quality cannabis products, such as inhalations, creams, oils, and pills. There is no doubt that the country is home to some of the best bud on the planet, so there is definitely potential for a budding cannabis industry.

“In the past, the United States really left no room for maneuver,” says Mark Golding, the former minister of justice who is responsible for legalizing medical marijuana production in Jamaica. “But with the Obama administration creating an opportunity for states to do what they wanted to, it created a window for all of us.” We do live in interesting times – many people think that we’re living in a time that is similar to post-Prohibition era. Back then, people didn’t know that that alcohol would result in billion-dollar sales. While Jamaica only started selling medical marijuana last year, only a limited number of growers were granted licenses to cultivate it for research.

Jamaica is the first Caribbean country to decriminalize marijuana. It was first criminalized far back in the 20th century when the country was under Spanish colonial rule. Although Jamaica was freed from their rule in 1962, the laws against cannabis still existed. When the Jamaican government signed into the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1964, the government spent millions of dollars to destroying cannabis farms all over the country, money which should have been spent on developing programs for the poor.

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Jamaican Laws Today

Jamaican citizens are permitted to grow and consume pot daily as long as they don’t exceed over 5 plants. Tourists who visit Jamaica, who already have medical marijuana licenses, can also use marijuana during their visit provided they obtain the Health Ministry permits and pay the fees. Foreigners are allowed to purchase up to 2 ounces of local cannabis for their medicinal use while in Jamaica from special medical cannabis shops all over the country, or straight from cultivators. Cannabis farm tours are also a popular activity with toking travelers while in Jamaica – so this might be another way to try the local bud. However, transporting your weed out of Jamaica is still illegal so finish all your pot before your trip ends – or give it away to other travelers. Taking weed out of Jamaica is still considered drug trafficking, no matter which way you look at it.

Rastafarians though, are an exception to the rule. They are the foundation of cannabis culture as we know it today. Because of their religion, Rastafarian adults are allowed to grow and transport cannabis in unlimited amounts as long as they agree to consume it only during religious rites, and are forbidden from selling it. Despite the misconceptions, Rastafarians actually look down on using cannabis purely for getting high. It is a sacred plant to them, and one that is used in ceremonies to promote feelings of unity, sooth the spirit, and produce spiritual visions.

Jamaican Cannabis Tours Take Off