The Jamaican Parliament approved on Tuesday an Act that legalizes marijuana but in regulated small amount.

The Act also calls for the establishment of an agency that will issue licenses for the regulation of marijuana in the medical industry.

With the approval of the said law, people in Jamaica can now legally cultivate marijuana but only up to five plants at the most.

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Also, a possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is considered small offense wherein the offender only gets ticket. No criminal records will be cited.

Tourists are also permitted to legally buy regulated small amount of marijuana in Jamaica if they have medical marijuana prescription. This is one of the country's ways of promoting its health tourism industry.

Jamaican Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton said that the enactment of the Act paves way for progress in the marijuana medical industry.

Local medical experts have been using marijuana as one of the ingredients for medicines.

Although some Jamaicans considered the passage of the law as historic and positive, others expressed concern over this matter.

"The passage of this legislation does not create a free for all in the growing, transporting, dealing or exporting of ganja," said Jamaican National Security Minister Peter Bunting. "The security forces will continue to rigorously enforce Jamaican law consistent with our international treaty obligations."

Bunting's statement was prompted by concerns over drug trafficking. Bunting, however, assured that Jamaica will continue to fight against trafficking of illegal drugs and the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

"We expect that Jamaica and all states party to the U.N. Drug Conventions will uphold their obligations, including a firm commitment to combating and dismantling criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking," said U.S. Assistant Secretary for Count-Narcotics Affairs William Brownfield.

Jamaica has long been the largest supplier of marijuana to the Caribbean and to the United States of America.

TagsJamaica, marijuana, ganja, Weed, Rastafarian