THE EDITOR, Sir:
RE: THE 'Decriminalisation of ganja could hurt Jamaica', Solicitor General warns that Jamaica could face sanctions if drug is allowed for personal use.
While it is true that there are some provisions in the three UN Conventions that foresee possible sanctions to countries that have implemented the documents after ratification and are not complying, it is also true that a sovereign nation can, at all times, reconsider, reform and/or amend its adherence to any international treaty.
This is, for instance, the case of Italy, where in 1993, a popular referendum was held to depenalise the personal consumption of all drugs. Not only 55% of the electorate (over 20 million people) voted in favour of relaxing the ineffective drug law, but no one, within the UN system dared to chastise, let alone sanction, Italy for that democratic reform.
There is a legal difference between depenalising and decriminalising. What Italy did was the first, it did not breach the Conventions, it did not create any problem with its partners and allies, and it allowed a more humane treatment of non-violent offenders and people with a health problem. Jamaica could follow these steps reaching out, at the same time, to other countries, such as Canada and the UK, that have moved marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2.
The first objective of a Government should be to work for the good of its citizens and not to please its partners. Relaxing drug laws goes exactly in that direction.
I am, etc.,
MARCO PERDUCA
mperduca@antiprohibitionist.org
866 UN Plaza, suite 408
New York, NY
Via Go-Jamaica
