Jamaica Kicks Out Queen, Opts to Legalize Marijuana
Jamaica have announced plans to fire Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, and legalize cannabis, in a radical new constitutional amendment.
Lawmakers are discussing the plans as part of the new government’s 2016-2017 legislative agenda.
The proposals would see the Queen being replaced with a Non-Executive President, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen announced to Parliament on Thursday.
Independent.co.uk reports:
Jamaican Labour Party leader Andrew Holness scraped a narrow win in general elections in February as voters opted for promises of tax cuts and a higher minimum wage over the previous government’s austerity program.
The legislative agenda also includes a proposal to set fixed election dates and term limits for the Prime Minister, as well as a proposal to fully legalize marijuana for “specified purposes.”
The measures would need to be passed by Parliament to become law. The government also plans to set up a single anti-corruption body, and reform the tax and pension system, Mr Allen said.
The Queen is also head of state of other Caribbean nations, including Barbados and the Bahamas.
