Thousands of Jamaicans see ganja records wiped clean

Sherine Williams, Gleaner Writer

Almost 4,000 Jamaicans who had criminal records for minor ganja offenses have so far been issued with clean Police certificates under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act passed in 2015.

During a presentation to Parliament yesterday, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck said amendments to the Act saw 71 persons being qualified to have their offenses automatically erased.

Chuck said thousands of other Jamaicans have had their criminal records wiped clean by the state.

Chuck also said last year's amendment to the Dangerous Drug Act has led to a 72 per cent reduction in the number of new ganja offenses listed in all parish courts.

He said the number of ganja cases dropped from 8,284 in 2014 to 2,285 in 2015.

The amendments to the Dangerous Drug Act decriminalised possession of small quantities of marijuana but persons can still be ticketed for possession of the drug.