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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Jamaica considers marijuana legalisation and production | Jamaica considers marijuana legalisation and production |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Jamaican cabinet has approved a bill that legalises the possession of small amounts of marijuana. | |
| It means that for the first time the country's Rastafarian community, which uses the herb for religious purposes, could be able to smoke it legally. | It means that for the first time the country's Rastafarian community, which uses the herb for religious purposes, could be able to smoke it legally. |
| The bill also envisages a licensing authority for the cultivation, sale and distribution of marijuana for medical and therapeutic purposes. | The bill also envisages a licensing authority for the cultivation, sale and distribution of marijuana for medical and therapeutic purposes. |
| It goes to the senate this week for approval. | It goes to the senate this week for approval. |
| The bill also proposes that the smoking of marijuana will be banned in public spaces. | The bill also proposes that the smoking of marijuana will be banned in public spaces. |
| Decriminalisation spreading | Decriminalisation spreading |
| South and Central America and the Caribbean countries have been battling the impact of drug trafficking and drug use for decades. | South and Central America and the Caribbean countries have been battling the impact of drug trafficking and drug use for decades. |
| Cocaine and marijuana produced in the region is transported through many countries, their citizens turned into consumers by the trade. | Cocaine and marijuana produced in the region is transported through many countries, their citizens turned into consumers by the trade. |
| But the BBC's Candace Piette says that as trafficking and drug consumption have continued to grow, many governments have begun to recognise that heavy-handed tactics and the crackdown on drugs has failed. | But the BBC's Candace Piette says that as trafficking and drug consumption have continued to grow, many governments have begun to recognise that heavy-handed tactics and the crackdown on drugs has failed. |
| Elsewhere in the region: | Elsewhere in the region: |