Jamaican legislators voted on Tuesday to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
The new law allows the possession of up to 2oz (57g) of marijuana, also called ganja. Cultivation of five or fewer plants on any premises is also permitted.
The legislation paves the for the medical and scientific uses of the plant. A licensing authority can now be set up to deal with regulations on cultivation and distribution.
Rastafarians can also legally use marijuana for religious purposes for the first time on the island where the spiritual movement was founded in the 1930s. Tourists prescribed medical marijuana abroad will be able to apply for permits at a cost authorising them to legally buy small amounts of the herb.
Previous attempts to change ganja laws were scuttled because of fears of sanctions from Washington DC.