St Lucia says regional approach to ganja needed

(Jamaica Gleaner) – The St Lucia government says it is important for Caricom to adopt a regional approach to settling the issue of the legislation of marijuana.

Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony said in a broadcast yesterday that the movement of citizens within the region makes it difficult to deal with the decriminalisation of marijuana on an individual basis.

He says a joint approach would be in keeping with the decision by Caricom leaders at their inter-sessional summit last month to create a regional commission to consider the issue.

The leaders during the summit in St Vincent discussed a preliminary report prepared by the Caricom Secretariat that indicated decriminalising marijuana for medicinal purposes could help boost the region’s economy.