Caricom leaders to debate marijuana legalization

Associated Press
Saturday, March 8, 2014

Researchers with a Caribbean trade bloc have found that decriminalizing marijuana and exploring its use for medicinal purposes could help boost the region's sluggish economy. Caricom leaders are expected to talk about the preliminary report in a two-day summit in the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Activists in Jamaica, St. Lucia and other islands have pushed to legalize marijuana use, with Jamaica's health minister recently stating he was "fully on board" with medical marijuana. However, many in the Caribbean still consider it a dangerous drug, and marijuana possession can lead to jail time and stiff fines across the region.