(CNS): Although the use of ganja as a medicine and in some cases personal use is being sanctioned in an increasing number of states across the US, here in Cayman the mere consumption of the plant is illegal and can land a person in jail even if it is being used to manage a serious medical condition. However, one very law abiding citizen, who said he has never smoked or even touched cannabis, has begun a campaign to promote the idea of legalizing its use here for medical purposes. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests ganja is not only helpful in managing a number of debilitating medical conditions but that it may actually cure a variety of serious health problems, including cancer.
Prominent local architect Burns Conolly has launched a new Facebook page called Cannabis Cayman that is aimed at raising awareness about the evidence that shows cannabis has incredible medicinal properties and to begin the debate here about legalizing its use for medical purposes. Conolly told CNS that he is not promoting the recreational use of the drug but said that the near miracle results in some cases makes it obvious that the health community can no longer ignore this plant.
“I became aware of the true potential of cannabis as a medicine after watching Dr. Gupta’s documentary on CNN entitled WEED,” he said, adding that it drove him on to do his own research.
The documentary is an eye opener for anyone who doubts the power of this plant and Conolly urges everyone to watch it.
“I was surprised not only by the anecdotal stories of miracles occurring but the actual amount of real scientific research that had been carried out on this plant. Over 28 states in America now have some form of legality on the plant, including Colorado and Washington states, where it is completely legal. Countries such as Israel have been doing research for over 40 years and now dispense it in their hospitals and homes for the elderly.”
Conolly has discovered something that many people have been saying for years: that there are almost unlimited benefits to this natural growing plant. It is much less harmful that the chemical compounds fed to many by pharmaceutical companies that can have terrible side-affects and limited efficacy in serious health conditions such as cancer, AIDS, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
“The more I looked the more I was convinced of its potential in curing or mitigating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epileptic seizures, chronic pain, glaucoma and, of course, cancer,” Connolly told CNS. “I really believe the time has come for a serious look at the medicinal powers of cannabis and to save many of our folks who are being lost to these diseases.”
More than ten years ago the United States government took out a patent on the cannabinoids found in the plant, knowing full well that its day would come again. The plant has a long history of medicinal use. It was not until the politicization of its use in the early part of the 20th century and ultimately its classification as a schedule 1 drug, which in law means that it has no benefits at all, that it became public enemy number one in the US, which then influenced its use and categorization worldwide.
There is now hope, however, that as the US begins to accept the medical benefits the rest of the world will be influenced again by what that government does. If the Federal government moves on the re-classification of medical marijuana, the barriers for other countries to do more research and re-address its use will come down.
Conolly said the trend is moving in a positive direction for the plant and even here in our region the Prime Minister St. Vincent Dr Ralph Gonsalves has asked CARICOM to begin debating its medicinal use.
“The world is now seeing the benefits of this important plant and clearly there is a rising tide that will see its use normalized within a few years,” he said. “Given that every 19 minutes in the USA someone dies from a prescription drug overdose, over 25,000 per year from alcohol, over 400,000 per year from tobacco and zero from cannabis, clearly something is wrong to have this plant and its medicinal properties illegal.”
Conolly said he was not suggesting that ganja should be legalized for recreational use or “for folks simply to get ‘high’ on it”, and noted that there were some concerns about the possible impact on younger people smoking cannabis because of the THC, which causes the high. However, Conolly pointed out that cannabis contains two main ingredients and CDB is equally important and both elements work miracles against a host of diseases by interacting with our body’s endocannabinoid system.
“I started the Facebook page ‘Cannabis Cayman‘ to begin the local discussion on legalizing the medicinal use of this plant. For the record I have never smoked or even touched cannabis and do not plan to unless I come down with cancer,” he said. “Then I think its oil extract will do a lot more for me than destroying my body with chemo and radiation.”
The Facebook page has attracted over 100 likes and is packed full of links and information about incredible stories relating to the plant and its growing proven, benefits.
The move to get ganja re-categorized in Cayman will required political support, however, and so far the only former or would-be politician brave enough to suggest its decriminalization is Dr Frank McField, and even he was reluctant to promote his position during the recent election campaign.
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