‘I too would like details about medical marijuana’ – Hon Fraser
Honorable Fraser said because of his position; people would approach him seeking information on how they could join the looming industry in the Territory.
“I too would like to know about this medical marijuana, but I can tell you something right now, it is popular. It is impossible to support something that you don’t know about. I need to know more about it, so I can see exactly what it is so I can make an intelligent decision on whether or not I would support it,” he said in response to questions by members of the press at the House of Assembly Conference room on Thursday, January 23, 2020.
“It is something that is catchy right now, and there has been talk about it before this Government came in, and I was surprised of the vigour in which they took it on. But, like everything else, the programmes that the Government has, the background and the details don’t filter down to the Opposition and I am not saying that they are hiding it from us,” he pointed out.
More concerns raised
Similarly, other members of the Opposition also had concerns of their own pertaining to the controversial sector that is taking the world by storm.
“Marijuana is illegal in the BVI, and we are yet to see any legislation or hear any discussion or any draft to talk about the decriminalization of marijuana. There is really a lot of hype with no substance behind the whole plan and the whole issue of medicinal marijuana in general,” Opposition Leader Marlon A. Penn (R8) added.
He stated that another concern was how persons involved in medical marijuana in the Virgin Islands would be able to perform banking transactions.
“The biggest challenge with this industry is the banking of funds. You are asking our banks which they will not do to bank funds. If they do bank these funds for medical marijuana, they have a risk of losing their licenses.”
Penn described the new administration’s plan in that regard as “smoking mirrors” one that is intended to appeal to the younger crowd. “There is no plan, just a lot of smoke and mirrors, a lot of sensationalisation for our young people who want these things, who want to hear of these things and there is no substance on how they are going to benefit from these things,” Penn said.
Gov't reviewing marijuana laws
During the second annual Hemp Fest held on Jost Van Dyke last July, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) revealed that the Government was in the process of reviewing a draft bill on the legalisation of marijuana.
It was also revealed in the 2020 deliberations of the Standing Finance Committee by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) that 100 Virgin Islanders would receive half-acre plots to cultivate and produce medicinal marijuana in Paraquita Bay.
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11 Responses to “‘I too would like details about medical marijuana’ – Hon Fraser”
Producing medical marijuana (CBD) is much more than allocating 1/2 acre plots and planting marijuana; growing medical marijuana is not planting potatoes or pumpkins. Medical marijuna is a control substance and it will be strictly controlled from planting to harvesting to storing to selling to dispensing.
Moreover, the chemical content of medical marijuana (CBD) is important and critical in treating ailments. The desired content is not attained by just planting some plot plants and voila there it is. Marijuana is a blend of many chemicals; there are different medical marijuana strains. Chemicals balances can vary widely from plant to plant. For example, what two farmers grow can have different effect on the same person. Boosting the chemical content of medical marijuana requires effective crossbreeding. It requires facilities (testing labs) and a host of personnel, ie, botanists, geneticists.........etc.
Further, who is the VI going to sell the marijuana to and in what form? Are there agreements without other countries to export medical marijuana, ie, US, UK, Canada, China, Central and South America.......etc. Here is a news flash. Though marijuana is being grown in the US, for the most part, it is illegal at the federal level, in spite of it being legal at the state and local levels. The only approval thus far by the FDA is for people suffering with epileptic seizures. Hon Premier call a standdown and let’s dot the I’s and cross the T’s. Let’s do this right; anything else is just chasing another shiny object. You are better, we are better than chasing shiny objects.
You really need to get educated.
"Producing medical marijuana (CBD) is much more than allocating 1/2 acre plots and planting marijuana; growing medical marijuana is not planting potatoes or pumpkins. Medical marijuna is a control substance and it will be strictly controlled from planting to harvesting to storing to selling to dispensing. "
The only control substance is good information. There are over 100+ cannabiniods in cannabis and this black white CBD argument is sensational.
The whole plant is medicine, food, textile and spiritual sacrament and has been for thousands of years.
It is all one species, and Low THC strains AKA hemp are currently federally legal in the US.
Even so plenty of people want money in their hand as responsible adults and can care less about a bank.
There are controlled substances in our society alright.