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Cannabis in Jamaica is illegal, but possession of small amounts was reduced to a petty offense in 2015. Cannabis is locally known as ganja, and internationally cannabis consumption play a prominent role in the nation's public image, being tied to cultural touchstones such as Rastafari and reggae music.
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History
Cannabis was introduced to Jamaica in the 1850s–1860s by indentured servants imported from India during British rule of both nations; many of the terms used in cannabis culture in Jamaica are based on Indian terms, including the term ganja.
Prohibition
Cannabis was banned in Jamaica under the 1913 Ganja Law, supported by the white elites and the Council of Evangelical Churches in Jamaica. The laws were gradually tightened over time, with academics noting that the harsh 1941 and 1961 restrictions occurred during periods where the authorities feared unrest in the lower classes.
Commerce
While cannabis use had been customary in Jamaica for over a century, in the 1960s cannabis farmers began to take advantage of the growing demand in Europe and North America, leading to increased police enforcement, but also corruption of the security and political systems by the profits from international trafficking.
Decriminalization
In February 2015, Jamaica's legislature voted to amend the nation's cannabis laws:
Cannabis industry
In April 2015, Jamaica planted its first legal cannabis plant, at the University of the West Indies Mona campus.