Regional Law Reform Initiatives ..................................................................................................................... 27 5.
SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL CONTEXT - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE LAW ..................................... 28 Uncertainty of the Cannabis Substance and Different Strains of Cannabis...................................................... 28 Evidence as to Positive Medicinal Benefits Now Overwhelming.................................................................... 29 Increasing Scientific Support for Medical Marijuana ...................................................................................... 30 Addressing Concerns about Adverse Health Impacts ...................................................................................... 33 The Gateway Theory........................................................................................................................................ 35 Problems with Psychomotor Functioning ........................................................................................................ 35 Human Rights and Health ................................................................................................................................ 36 Comparative Harm re Other Substances .......................................................................................................... 36 Dosage and Administration .............................................................................................................................. 37 Providing Opportunities for Caribbean Medical Researchers .......................................................................... 37 Regulating Medical Marijuana as Part of a New Law Reform Model ............................................................. 38 Use of Cannabis in Sport.................................................................................................................................. 38 Sufficient Support on Medical Marijuana for Law Reform ............................................................................. 39
6.
LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVES ON PROHIBITION................................................................ 39 Prohibition is Ineffective and Inefficient.......................................................................................................... 40 Recidivism and Creating Hardened Criminals ................................................................................................. 41 The Costs and Inefficiencies of a Prohibitive Regime ..................................................................................... 41 Lessons from Jamaica and Other Countries from a Law Enforcement Perspective ......................................... 42 Legitimacy of the Law Leading to Inability to Effectively Enforce it. ............................................................ 43 Criminality not from Use but Protecting Turf .................................................................................................. 43 Stereotyping and Discrimination in Law Enforcement? .................................................................................. 45 Drug Use and Addiction related to Existing Social Inequalities ...................................................................... 46
7.
SOCIAL AND HUMAN COSTS OF PROHIBITION-IMPACTS ON FAMILY ...................................... 48 Cannabis and Environmental Considerations................................................................................................... 49
8.
HUMAN RIGHTS ARGUMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION................................................................... 49 Proportionality in Administration of Justice Approaches to Cannabis............................................................. 51
9.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH............................................................ 52 Education and Children.................................................................................................................................... 53
10.
WHITHER AN ECONOMIC BASIS FOR LAW REFORM ................................................................. 53
Results of Economics Study- ........................................................................................................................... 54 State Control Most Beneficial .......................................................................................................................... 54 Protecting Regional Hegemony, Finance, Fair Trade and Land....................................................................... 56 Socio-economic Concerns and Equality in Land Policy .................................................................................. 57 Certification and Licensing .............................................................................................................................. 57 Unequal Trade Relationships and Foreign Control .......................................................................................... 57 Overall Benefits to Liberalisation .................................................................................................................... 58
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