ST JAMES, Jamaica – A St James parish judge told a businessman, who pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana on Monday, that if he wants to go into the industry, he should apply to the Cannabis Licencing Authority.

This was after 49-year-old Renville Kerr pleaded guilty to possession and dealing in three pounds of marijuana that was found inside his business establishment.

It is alleged that on April 19, a team of officers went to the accused man’s place of business and found two plastic bags containing marijuana.

When cautioned, Kerr reportedly asked the officer to give him a chance.

In mitigation, Kerr’s attorney, Henry McCurdy, stated that his client was a person of excellent character with no prior convictions, who did not dispute knowledge of the narcotics and asked that he be treated reasonably.

“Mr Kerr, you did the right thing by admitting where you went wrong and because of that, you will be shown mercy,” presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley then said.

The judge fined him $12,000 or 30 days for possession of the drugs, and no evidence was offered on the dealing charge.

“Mr Kerr, if this is something you wish to go into lawfully, please go to the Cannabis Licencing Authority,” the judge instructed Kerr before allowing him to leave the courtroom.

The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) was established in 2015 under the Dangerous Drug (Amendment) Act (DDA) with the specific role to establish and regulate Jamaica’s legal ganja and hemp industry. However, the CLA commenced operations in 2016 and issued the Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Licensing) (Interim) Regulations, 2016.

The Authority’s mandate is to:

• Create regulations to guide the development of an orderly legal ganja and hemp industry in Jamaica, for the use of the plant and its by-products for Medical, therapeutic and scientific purposes;

• Ensure that regulations created and activities within the industry are in keeping with Jamaica’s international obligations;

• Issue licenses, permits, and authorisation for the handling of ganja and hemp.