Ganja stakeholders call for reset and inclusion 10 years after enactment of Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act

April 15 marked a pivotal moment in Jamaica’s cannabis journey – 10 years since the enactment of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act (DDAA) of 2015, a landmark law that decriminalised small amounts of ganja and laid the groundwork for a regulated medicinal cannabis industry.

To commemorate the occasion, the Ganja Growers and Producers Association of Jamaica (GGPAJ), the Ethio-Africa Diaspora Union Millennium Council (EADUMC), and the National Alliance for the Legalisation of Ganja (NALG) have jointly published a position paper titled ‘Build An Inclusive Ganja Industry’, reflecting on the progress made and the road still to travel.

The DDAA 2015 brought significant reforms, including the legal right for Jamaicans to cultivate up to five ganja plants for personal therapeutic use, non-criminal possession of up to two ounces, expungement of certain criminal records, and formal recognition of the Rastafari community’s sacramental rights.

Despite these advancements, stakeholders argue that the implementation of the law was flawed from inception. They believe the “top-down” approach to regulating the industry has systematically excluded traditional farmers, particularly Rastafari cultivators and small-scale growers – those who, they assert, built Jamaica’s global ganja reputation long before legalisation.

“ The first shall be last and the last shall be first. The ‘powers that be’ have given this popular biblical verse a new meaning in the Jamaican Ganja Industry,” the groups stated, reiterating concerns first expressed in their 2018 420 Day Declaration.

“The small farmer, the Rastafari farmer, the traditional cultivators as we call them, who were first in the industry, building and maintaining Brand Jamaica, giving us a reputation worldwide for top grade ganja and herbs, have not only been left behind, they have been left out. Right now, they are the very ‘last’, if to be included at all.”

They continued, “As we have repeatedly stated, whether so designed or not, wittingly or unwittingly, it is socially, morally, culturally and economically wrong that those persons constituting the small and traditional ganja cultivators, a number of them being of the Rastafari faith, who were hounded, beaten, prosecuted, arrested, convicted, criminalised for growing ganja and laying the basis of the Jamaican ganja industry, are being left behind.”

SEVEN-POINT CALL TO ACTION

In commemoration of what they dubbed ‘Jamaica Ganja Day’, the advocates are calling for a comprehensive reset of the cannabis industry, outlining a Seven-Point Call to Action designed to revitalise and democratise access:

1. Rename the legislation – Propose changing the DDAA to the Cannabis Industry Development Act to reflect modern realities and ambitions.

2. Legalisation and liberalisation – Move beyond medical use to full adult use legalisation to open doors for wider participation and economic growth.

3. Amnesty for traditional growers – Implement a 2–3-year amnesty for traditional farmers to fast-track their inclusion using a uniquely Jamaican model.

4. New licensing categories – Create interim licenses and retail structures aimed at empowering local communities and protecting against foreign domination.

5. Access to arable land – Allocate irrigated farmland to ganja farmers, akin to programmes available to other agricultural sectors.

6. Reform the CLA – Reconstitute the Cannabis Licensing Authority to align with evolving global standards and ensure inclusive representation.

7. Banking access – Urge the Bank of Jamaica to work with stakeholders to bring the ganja industry into the formal financial sector.

“Ten years ago, the Ministry of Justice, in an addendum to the statement, acknowledged the importance of the DDAA, citing its contributions to legal reform, justice system efficiency, and economic potential,” the groups said.

“Former Justice Minister Senator the Hon. Mark Golding called it a ‘landmark piece of legislation’, emphasising the government’s commitment to a balanced approach in line with international obligations.”

The stakeholders continued, “However, as Jamaica stands at the crossroads of reflection and reform, the call from advocates is clear: the time has come to ensure the original cultivators are not left behind in the industry they helped to create.”

“There is enough space for all in the Jamaican cannabis industry,” GGPAJ affirmed. “It’s time to build a truly inclusive, equitable and thriving ganja sector – one rooted in justice, culture, and community.”