For over a century and many years before its use became vogue, Jamaicans were pioneering the use of ganja for religious, medicinal and recreational purposes. Information on Jamaica becoming known for having the “good stuff” went so far and wide that all Jamaicans were presumed to be ganja smokers and were left no choice but to embrace the “stigma” of being from the island known as the ganja capital of the world. But for all these years, the use of this God given bush of nature was legally prohibited in Jamaica and this despite the eventuality of places such as The Netherlands legalizing ganja to the extent that it could be ordered with coffee, yet any mention or discussion of ganja in foreign circles remained synonymous with Jamaica. During Jamaica’s pot history and the seemingly irrefutable reputation of the entire nation being ganja smokers, no layman would have guessed that highly developed countries were positioning themselves to legalize it in such a strategic, posited and structured manner that the gains would be enjoyed only by them, while deliberately leaving countries such as Jamaica totally marginalized.
It has become exceedingly clear that peripheral societies will continue to make unilateral decisions to ensure that their agenda to expropriate resources from tropical biospheres, or dispossessing the tropics of its chrematistic value, remains internalized, so as not to share any benefits from such undertakings, in order to ensure the continuation of imperialism.
Discussions on legalizing marijuana in Jamaica have made the rounds from time to time for as many years, through editorials or other forms of media coverage, even while many men were being arrested for possession of even small quantities and getting the ensuing police record to go along with it. Some advocates for change were well in sync with the thought of Francois Rabelais who said, “We always long for forbidden things, and desire what is denied us.”
Jamaica’s reputation is now waning as “the world,” having become “fully prepared,” has “come to recognize the medicinal value” of ganja. It is somewhat of a mystery as to how prepared and ready several countries were to rally the overnight call to fill the need for the demand of a product that has by far outpaced any stretch of the imagination in sales and profitability. Jamaica, having been left on the sidelines, is now running fast and furious to try to capitalize on the mind boggling profit that this plant is generating.
Tourist arrival in Colorado for 2015 skyrocketed to just over 71 million and recorded sales for Cannabis in the month of May 2016 alone, was a whopping $486 Million. This includes the sale of non-medicinal ganja that adults over 21 with a valid ID are now at liberty to purchase. This kind of injection of foreign revenue could wipe out Jamaica’s national debt in just a few years. Health Wellbeing.
CANNABIS DISPENSARY
I imagine that it is as difficult for many Jamaicans in the diaspora, as it is for me, to watch as these countries chemically alter the strains of this organic product to create a multitude of species for profit. But who’s to be blamed? Should it be The University of the West Indies which shelved its research since the 1970s, those who have sat on their laurels despite having the scope to think outside the box or those who saw the opportunities and failed to take action?
Other topics that have been broached are: What’s keeping Tastee Patty and Devon House Ice Cream from becoming global franchises, while Jamaica opens its doors to the same and are Jamaica’s artisans being coached by some special department at Jampro to ensure quality designs that can compete with international standards, or is Jampro just facilitators for peddling goods to Jamaicans abroad whose support is more for effort, if not, just a show of patriotism? It is hoped that Jampro’s agenda has more to do with opening doors to consistent markets for Jamaican products around the world and that they are integrally involved through guidance and assistance in the development process.
So, off the chain building concepts are in process overseas for luxury resorts, “bud and breakfast” accommodations and spas that will cater to dedicated recreational ganja smokers or those in need of its medicinal properties. Meals in these facilities will be steeped with ganja of varying strength and there is now a serious need for every imaginable thing with an artistic rendering of the “calli weed,” from hair clips to flat ware, to meet this emergent market.
DESIGN CONCEPT FOR HOTEL IN WASHINGTON
It is often the finish and scope of design possibilities that are lacking in production but business acumen is integral in taking these goods to market. Jamaica may not be able to compete with traditional first world sophistication coming from robust economies of scale, but blistering designs of the quaint and rustic comes with its own unique characteristics and outstanding beauty.
There is no telling how many strains of weed there are but “The Chillbud” website compiled a list of their top 50 strains that are available on the market. It is well worth checking out for the catchy names alone but the description of indications warrant a read as well.
I imagine some of the names of Jamaica’s strains could be:
CALLI
MACKA JUK YUH
HEAD BUN
HEAD TIE
HEAD LICK
BUN HEAD
BALM YARD
CUCU MACKA
MAWGA DAG
NIGHT NURSE
REGGAE REVOLUTION
SKA
DREAD
NATTY
KECH-UP
Decriminalizing the weed for personal use and making it available through vending machines is a positive step for people who would go out of their way to find it anyway and promoters should consider incorporating “Cannibis for Wellness” as a part of Jamaica’s festivities. For surely, we have moved far beyond the era of Columbus’ discovery, to being a collective intelligence hell bent on true independence.
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE SEEK YOU MEDICAL DOCTOR’S ADVICE ON ALL HEALTH CONCERNS.
Marlene Daley
Publisher
Kotch Magazine – https://kotchmagazine.com/
