Gov’t to approve use of medical cannabis oil

By: Reshma Ragoonath

Government intends, as a matter of urgency, to legalise of the use of medical cannabinoid oil for the treatment of cancer and glaucoma among other conditions. This was announced by Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin on Monday 30 May as he delivered the Progressives-led Government policy statement following the formal opening of the Legislative Assembly. Photo: medicalmarijuana.co.uk

In a surprising announcement Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin says government intends, as a matter of urgency, to legalise of the use of medical cannabinoid oil for the treatment of cancer and glaucoma among other conditions.

However having said that the Premier, who made the announcement while delivering the Progressives-led Policy Statement entitled-“Delivering on our promises” on Monday (30 May), made it clear government is not legalising the use of medical marijuana in Cayman Islands.

“I am not talking about legalising the use of the cannabis plant itself for medical or other uses,” he clarified as he spoke following the ceremonial opening of the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
While debate for the legalisation of marijuana continues to rage on globally, some countries have opted to allow the use of the narcotic in controlled doses for medicinal purposes.

Just this month, according to the UK Telegraph, Germany announced that it will legalise cannabis for medicinal purposes early next year. A draft bill is in the process of being finalised. The issue has been been on the Caricom agenda for quite some time. Last year Jamaica decriminalised small portions of marijuana paving the way for the legalisation of the drug for medical purposes.

Last year Bodden Town MLA Alva Suckoo began a public campaign to solicit views on whether he should bring a motion on the legalisation of medical marijuana in Cayman. He received mixed support on the issue.

On Monday Premier McLaughlin, speaking on the issue, said under the proposed chances doctors will be able to prescribe the use of the oil, which derived from the cannabis or marijuana plant, to patients in need.

“I am speaking here about an oil extract from the cannabis plant that has been prepared for medical purposes and that will be imported into the Cayman Islands in a fashion similar to medical morphine,” he explained.

Premier McLaughlin, speaking in the LA on the decision, said, “After carefully considering the merits and demerits of legalising the use of medical cannabinoid oil to treat those in our community with a debilitating disease, whether cancer, glaucoma, or perhaps even severe epilepsy, Government is persuaded that it is better to favour hope and compassion over fear.”

He said Cabinet has issued instructions to the Legal Department to draft a Bill that will allow medical doctors to prescribe cannabinoid oil to patients who may benefit.

“We are treating this as a matter of urgency for we are keenly aware that time is not a luxury for many of those whom this drug may benefit,” he said.

The Premier, in an attempt to counter detractors to the proposed change, pointed to an ailing Caymanian woman whose option at this point is “death or death.”

“For those who may doubt the wisdom of this decision, I wish they could have been present when a young Caymanian, who in making a case for his very sick wife to be able to access the oil that they believe will help defeat her illness, said that his wife’s choice currently is ‘death or death’.

That is their reality for there is no standard medication or treatment available that gives them hope,” he said.

The Premier, speaking on health in his policy statement presentation, also stressed that Cayman is “badly in need of a proper mental health facility.”

He said cabinet has approved Outline Business Case on the facility and the 2016-2017 budget contains funding to start “this work in earnest so that we can provide a modern, humane environment for the treatment of mental illness in our community.”

“We are spending tens of thousands of dollars to send people overseas for treatment and the number of people in need continues to rise. Here at home some of our residents with mental illness are homeless, some go in and out of our inpatient unit, some live with family and friends while others are in prison. With that in mind, this Government has determined that we need to find a way to correct this,” he added.

The Premier also pointed out that a modern Disabilities Law has also been long overdue and assured that in “the coming year this will be corrected.”

He also explained that during this next year the Department of Health Regulatory Services will review the registration process with the aim of introducing an electronic system to file applications for healthcare practitioners.

“They will also work with the Health Insurance Commission to investigate the feasibility of a national health insurance plan for retirees and senior citizens,” Premier McLaughlin added.

The Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, he said, is continuing its work to develop a National Policy of Older Persons and is completing the Poor Persons Relief Regulations to streamline the processing of the applications of those most in need.

“The Ministry will continue to advocate for and strengthen child safeguarding measures and therapeutic rehabilitation for the protection of all children in the Cayman Islands. Counselling and family services will be expanded and enhanced to more effectively address a broader range of emerging needs in our society with a goal to improve the lives of those who access those services,” Mr McLaughlin added.

The Ministry, he said, has also developed preliminary recommendations for the improvement of physical education and school sports.

“We believe physical education and school sports are important to our community as a whole to increase physical competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility and just plain old enjoyment of physical activity,” the Premier, who is also the Health Minister, added.