Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick has assented to changes to the Misuse of Drugs Law allowing for the importation of oil derived from the marijuana plant for medical purposes only.

That means Cayman pharmacists and doctors can lawfully import and prescribe cannabinoid [cannabis] oil for patients, as long as they can find a source to import it from. The bill does not legalize ganja usage for medical purposes.

The Legislative Assembly unanimously approved the changes allowing the importation Oct. 24.

In an historic moment in the Legislative Assembly on Monday afternoon, all members of the parliament backed the government’s amendment to the drugs law to pave the way for the use medicinal cannabis oil. Premier Alden McLaughlin, who is also the health minister, presented the bill on Friday but the debate began this afternoon, and in a show of unity all of the legislators backed the change. There are still hurdles ahead for those suffering from conditions where the oil may help with pain or even offer a cure, as sourcing it could still prove difficult.

Premier Alden McLaughlin (who is an attorney) outlined the case against moving forward with the legalization of medical marijuana in the Cayman Islands. He then endorsed moving forward with the legalization of medical marijuana in the Cayman Islands.

A statement released by the Office of the Premier noted the following:

Dennie Warren, whose wife was diagnosed with lung cancer, has become an advocate for legalization of cannabis oil for medical purposes.

Pressure is growing for government to swiftly follow through on its commitment to make regulatory changes to allow doctors to prescribe cannabis oil for medical purposes.

Premier Alden McLaughlin said in May that government’s lawyers had been instructed to draft the necessary legislative changes to allow limited use of the marijuana derived product in the Cayman Islands.

Some cancer patients in Cayman believe cannabis oil treatment, though unproven in clinical trials, may represent their last chance. Medical marijuana is also known to help patients with pain related to chemotherapy and radiation.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Hon Dr Ralph Gonsalves believes another year of consultations is possible before a regional decision is made on the decriminalisation of medical marijuana and small quantities of the drug.

This even as the Regional Marijuana Commission is expected to deliver its report to Caricom next month on the controversial issue which has drawn widespread debate including here in Cayman.

Dr Gonsalves, speaking with The Cayman Reporter last Thursday (16 June) during a brief visit to the Legislative Assembly, said regional consultations on the issue were inaugurated in his country last Wednesday.

There were not many surprises in the premier’s Budget Statement delivered in the Legislative Assembly on Monday morning but the PPM leader announced two unexpected and unrelated items that will be welcomed by many. Alden McLaughlin said that all civil servants will receive a 2.2% one-off bonus payment in their June pay packets based on annual salaries, in addition to the pay reviews that are coming up this year. And in another surprise announcement, he revealed that government would soon begin importing cannabis oil to allow doctors to prescribe it as a medicine for certain diseases.