KINGSTON, Jamaica - For centuries we have been socialised that marijuana is destructive and harmful to our health. Astounding as that assertion is, it is true. During the 1970s the subject of the benefits of marijuana was first explored, since then not much has been done to advance this subject. The current issue is how Jamaica can capitalise on the potential of the medicinal properties of marijuana to revitalise our economic performance.
More and more countries are legally and socially accepting marijuana, especially for its medicinal properties. Although marijuana remains illegal under federal laws, the United States (US) is the leading country, the game changer, in promoting the medicinal properties of marijuana use by relaxing its federal laws not to challenge state efforts to decriminalise marijuana. It is interesting to note that since 1996, the US, where 20 states have decriminalised marijuana use, has been radically redefining the negative image associated with marijuana, to a socially, medically and legally accepted one. Within this context, the US has undoubtedly taken a quantum leap.