Jamaica considers legalizing ganja and getting rid of the Queen

Jamaican lawmakers will debate a constitutional amendment that could depose Queen Elizabeth II and form a full-fledged republic.

Jamaica has been part of the Commonwealth since its independence in 1962, along with the Bahamas and Trinidad & Tobago.

This big question will be the business of the government recently elected at the February 2016 general election. Andrew Holness, leader of the Jamaican Labour Party  plans to put an end to the austerity policy introduced under the previous government. His objectives for the future include raising the minimum wage, lowering taxes and, above all, legalizing marijuana for «specific purposes», without giving any further indication of what this means.

In Jamaica, cannabis possession is already decriminalized up to 70 grams. The long-term aim is to take the wind out of the sails of the gangsters who have always plagued Kingston.

Having said that, you can already find hundreds of outdoor plants of excellent quality, as the tropical sunshine ensures rapid growth. If you're a tourist in Jamaica and have a medical prescription, you can legally buy up to 56 grams of local cannabis in pharmacies.

Elected with 50.6% of the vote, the Labor Party holds just one more seat in the Assembly than its main rival, the People's National Party.
It remains to be seen whether the parliamentary monarchy will give way to an independent, anti-corruption (another point on the program) and pro-ganja republic.

These measures must be approved by the Jamaican Parliament before becoming law.