--- description: A new law has decriminalized possession of small amounts while also laying the groundwork for the drug’s cultivation and medical usage title: Jamaica Decriminalizes Marijuana and Moves Toward Cultivation image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt676e1c5bf477d0dc/698780da2dce01b4019ddb99/rtx5ktu.jpg?branch=production ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Jamaica Decriminalizes Marijuana and Moves Toward Cultivation by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 25, 2015 4:40 AM CUT  Jamaican ganja farmer checks his marijuana plants Jamaican ganja farmer checks his marijuana plantsJohn Greim—LightRocket/Getty Images by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 25, 2015 4:40 AM CUT A law passed in Jamaica on Tuesday [decriminalized possession](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB%5FJAMAICA%5FDECRIMINALIZING%5FPOT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT "undefined") of small amounts of marijuana, while also laying the groundwork for regulating the drug’s cultivation and medical usage. The new law states that possession of up to 2 oz. of pot or weed, as it is otherwise known, will be considered a petty offense without going on a person’s criminal record, the Associated Press reported. It also legalizes the cultivation of up to five marijuana plants on any premises and the use of the drug for religious purposes. Furthermore, tourists prescribed medical marijuana abroad can apply for a permit to buy it locally. The amendment in Jamaica, where weed has long been a part of daily life but remained illegal, comes soon after [Alaska](http://time.com/3719828/marijuana-legal-alaska/ "undefined") became the third U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana. However, both American and Jamaican authorities insisted that this does not change the strict rules and guidelines around cross-border drug trafficking and illegal cultivation. ### 7 Dizzying GIFs of Spinning Cannabis Strains  Hawgs Breath Type: Indica Lineage: Hindu Kush x Afghani Smell/Taste: Fruity, Earthy, Citrus Effect: Euphoric, Relaxed, Uplifted, Sleepiness, Pain Relief, Stress/Anxiety Relief Nugshots  Ed Rosenthal Super Bud Type:Hybrid Lineage: Afghani Indica x Hindu Kush x Mexican Sativa x Thai Sativa x African Hybrid Smell/Taste: Mint, Earthy, Citrus, Effect: Uplifted, Relaxing, Active, Pain/Stress Relief Nugshots  Grape Ape Type: Indica Hybrid Lineage: Afghani x Skunk #1 Smell/Taste: Sweet, Grape, Berry, Effect: Relaxing, Pain Relief, Sleepiness Nugshots  Bubba Kush Type: Indica Lindage: Bubble Gum x OG Kush Smell/Taste: Sweet, Earthy, Citrus, Perfume Effect: Calming, Body Relaxation Nugshots  Black Poison No known reliable data. Nugshots  Platinum Bubba Kush Type: Indica Lineage: Platinum OG Kush x Bubba Kush Smell/Taste: Floral, Sweet, Fruity, Earthy Effect: Body Relaxation, Pain Relief, Appetite Stimulation, Sleepiness Nugshots  Mango Haze Type: Hybrid Lineage: Northern Lights #5 x Skunk #1 x Haze Smell/Taste: Mango, Pine, Citrus, Tropical, Mint Effect: Uplifting, Cerebral, Euphoric Nugshots  Platinum OG Kush Type: Indica Hybrid Lineage: Master Kush x OG Kush Smell/Taste: Earthy, Sweet, Pungent, Pine Effect: Sedation, Calming, Anxiety Relief, Appetite Stimulation Nugshots  Hindu Kush Type: Indica Lineage: Unknown Smell/Taste: Earthy, Sweet, Piney, Effect: Relaxing, Pain Relief, Body Sensation, Sleepiness Nugshots ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3721573/jamaica-pot-marijuana-decriminalized/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3721573/jamaica-pot-marijuana-decriminalized/"},"headline":"Jamaica Decriminalizes Marijuana and Moves Toward Cultivation","datePublished":"2015-02-25T04:40:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:05:25.168Z","description":"New law decriminalizes possession of small amounts","url":"https://time.com/3721573/jamaica-pot-marijuana-decriminalized/","keywords":["Pot","Drugs","medical marijuana","Weed","Jamaica"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt676e1c5bf477d0dc/698780da2dce01b4019ddb99/rtx5ktu.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rishi Iyengar","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt676e1c5bf477d0dc/698780da2dce01b4019ddb99/rtx5ktu.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"A Rastafarian smokes marijuana through an orange during a commemoration to mark the 27th Anniversary of the death of Bob Marley","caption":"A Rastafarian smokes marijuana through an orange during a commemoration to mark the 27th Anniversary of the death of Bob Marley","creditText":"John Greim—LightRocket/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3721573/jamaica-pot-marijuana-decriminalized/","name":"Jamaica Decriminalizes Marijuana and Moves Toward Cultivation"}}]}] ```