ABSTRACT
Strong cultural, historical, and religious forces have shaped understandings of and attitudes toward cannabis in the Caribbean such that it is simultaneously tolerated, reviled, and revered. This chapter sheds light on the nuanced historical backgrounds, etiology, epidemiology, research, concerns, policies, and interventions related to cannabis that may be helpful to practice in the Caribbean and with its global diasporic populations. The Caribbean experience also informs current and proposed changes to decriminalize cannabis in other parts of the world as sweeping attitudinal and legal changes toward cannabis have added new challenges, including equity and environmental justice. Like the United States, the Caribbean has experienced its cannabis revolution and Jamaica as several states, decriminalized recreational use and established medicinal cannabis applications, with provisions for Rastafari. This chapter is concerned that cannabis reforms do not ignore potentially harmful physical and mental health risks of cannabis use, particularly for adolescents and emerging adults.
