Weed a winner after US midterm vote

| 09/11/2018 | 68 Comments

Cayman News Service(CNS): Voters in three more American states have easier access to medical and recreational ganja after the mid-term elections. Michigan has voted to legalise recreational use of weed, while Utah and Missouri have voted for legal medical use. The states join 31 others that have already legalised medical marijuana, and nine where recreational use is now legal. According to the National Cannabis Industry Association, Michigan becomes the first Midwest state to support legal use, with 55% of voters supporting the proposal.

The organisation believes the size of the projected adult-use market there makes it a game-changing initiative for reform. Michigan is the only adult-use state that also supported President Donald Trump in 2016. 

“This election proves that US voters are ready and eager for comprehensive cannabis policy reform at the state and federal level,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “This is no longer a third-rail issue. Members of Congress need to listen to their constituents, allow states to determine their own cannabis policies, and start treating this burgeoning legal industry fairly.”

North Dakota, where ganja legalisation and expungement was on the ballot, voters failed to support the initiative but the fact it had made it to the ballot at all in such a staunchly conservative state where the senate candidates both opposed it indicates just how far the movement to legalise weed has come, the NCIA has noted. The association also believes that as more states legalise cannabis use, the more likely it is that federal prohibition will soon topple.

Michelle Rutter, the NCIA’s Government Relations Manager, said the victories have implications in Washington, DC and set the stage for federal reform, especially with Democrats now in control of the House of Representatives, but it won’t be without a fight.

“With the change in leadership in the House of Representatives, cannabis policy and reforms will be able to advance in a way never seen before,” she said. “At the same time, any pro-cannabis bills or amendments sent to the Senate will still face challenges, but as recent elections have proved, anything is possible.”

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Comments (68)

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  1. Sir AntiWeed says:

    Those of us who have lost siblings and close friends who went mentally ill and died young or ended up on medication due to too much weed from an early age will never support such insanity. I suggest reading the facts of THC and it’s detriment to mental well being.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Really. I think you’ll find alcohol and Tabbaco kill far more.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That really is such a poor argument for adding another intoxicant to the menu. Do you not see this?

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        • Anonymous says:

          It’s on the menu full buffet style, illegal or not. Too much demand + illegal = a lot of profit for smugglers.

          Keeping it illegal since the 60s has not stopped it.

          Legalization will move the profit from the smugglers to our coffers, remove their major incentive to smuggle, and free up police resources for REAL crime.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Because they are already legal and access to them is easier? Or because they are more dangerous?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Your friends were either mental before smoking cannabis or laced their cannabis with something more potent.

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    • Dr. H. Shwanee says:

      The entire country of Canada would not have legalized had there been a legitimately proven concern for this. Correlation does not imply causation.

      People with pre-existing mental conditions should not take any drug not recommended by their doctor, be it caffeine or alcohol.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sir, don’t expect too much support for truth these days.
      The lunatics are in charge of the asylum.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thanks for the laugh. This is complete nonsense and never happened to anyone you know.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Like booze it’s not meant for kids.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Which is a chance you take on consuming black market cannabis!!

      Having it state regulated and taxed, this will remove foreign/harmful chemicals used by some growers.

      Your lost sibling also probably had a mental issue long before cannabis consumption just smoking on that bush kush is no joke.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What the hell are you reading, this is beyond true, do you also read on the internet that the Earth is flat and spread such misinformation?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Lmao you even know what thc is? Hahababababaha Mr. Know it all is back with his money and zero wisdom or wit.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Just bought 40 acres in Michigan on a Lake for what would have bought me 1/10 of an acre in Cayman. And there is no way you could have got the same deal unless you know the locals. Enjoy your dog-parcels of paradise with all da boom boom boom neighbors.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    we should up the prison time for all ganja related offences, especially “professionals” who are caught.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Legal in Canada
    Decriminalized in Mexico
    Partially legal in the US on a state by state basis, Technically illegal federally

    We can see it happening already, Cayman is being left behind… as usual

    We cling to the past better than anyone else in the world

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  5. Anonymous says:

    We should decriminalize small recreational quantities, but raise the fine for smoking recklessly in public. Might as well make some money from the potheads that can’t keep track of where they physically are. I don’t agree with expunging records. If you get caught racing down the shoulder of a highway during rush hour, you shouldn’t have the record dropped 10 years later when the engineers decide to add another lane. Adults break the social contract of the day at their peril, knowing the consequences. Those daredevils with a propensity to do whatever they want, in spite of the law, get what’s coming to them – with the danger of being caught = the thrill of rebellion. Know the game.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Time for our dinosaur Government to do the same! Allow the man to grow his own (max 6 plants per person at any one time) and clamp down harder on the overnight canoes from Jamaica and smugglers from Honduras! No more coke and guns!!

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  7. Sir AntiWeed says:

    There is no one in Northward for simple possession of weed. Go and ask for yourself….The drug court has been addressing this alternative to prison for years. The fact is Northward is packed with some really bad people. Most weed heads if not all are the weed canoe smugglers bringing in thousands of pounds and guns. Whilst at it see if the HSA will release figures on the escalation of mental health patients and how many are linked to weed addiction. And while at it check the NAU / Social services and link how many clients are on weed. I can imagine in 20 years our country will be ran by a bunch of doped up weed heads.

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    • Real Caymanian... says:

      You rather alcoholics continue to run it?? Wasn’t a coke head in the LA as well?? And they just the ones that had their business in the public.. Come see whats going on behind closed doors..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Alden drinks at country and western and this guy doesn’t bat an eye. Thousands of people smoke tobacco and no one bats an eye.

      I’m a private sector professional Caymanian with 10-20 years experience. I partake in replacement of alcohol.. I pay my taxes.

      Yet I’m classified negatively in the same way? Stop generalizing, I have a master’s degree. It’s the personality not the plant.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Better still check them for real drugs. You are a damn fool if you think we don’t have a serious hard drugs problem here, and in the majority of cases weed isn’t the cause.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I’ve seen hard drug problems and it is most definitely isn’t here. Crimes where I’m from are done by meth and crack heads. Here, they are lazy entitled idiots who are pretty sober when committing the crimes.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Any Info sources there?

          Mr. Know it all has asked, only because he needs ta know it all ya see…

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          • Anonymous says:

            You don’t need stats to know that there aren’t meth and crack heads running around. You’d see them.

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            • Anonymous says:

              You must walk around blind fold.

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            • Anonymous says:

              You’re an idiot and obviously do not care enough to see the true problems in Cayman. You must be one of those expats getting paid handsomely for little or nothing and do not leave your gated community. If you do not know that Cayman is filled with crackheads, including functioning crackheads, then you are obviously living in your own little world.

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              • Anonymous says:

                Fuctioning crackheads?!?!?!? Okay now I know you’re speaking out of your rear. Do you mean cokeheads?

                And that was a great try at a burn on expats. You have fun with that resentment cause it’s only harming your well-being.

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                • Anonymous says:

                  Ladies and Gentlemen we now know this individual is a user. Seems like the word “crackhead” touched you so much you had to try and correct the original poster. Keep on snorting those lines and being blind to the facts.

                • Anonymous says:

                  I was not trying to burn expats, i just speak the truth. Some are paid handsomely to delegate and take credit. I’ve heard expats (which are friends) say they’ve experienced the very same thing. There are some very corrupt, drug hungry individuals that come to these shores. On the other hand, there are some exceptional persons (expats) that come to better the Islands and people rather than take what they can and leave.

        • Anonymous says:

          Sounds good, but you’re probably wrong.

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        • Anonymous says:

          So have I. In fact I have lost a friend or two back home and know what I speak of first hand. I don’t know where you live but I live out in the community where there are a lot of unemployed. Crackheads and prostitutes (looking to earn enough for a rock or two). If you open your eyes and try to help and get to know those in the community around you as I do, you will see crack and alcohol are shockingly prevalent.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Free all prisoners who are serving time for small amounts of cannabis and expunge their records. This is long over due!!

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Mexico’s new government is also very keen on legalizing as well to remove the black market incentive from the cartels. Once that happens, the eastern illegal states will be sandwiched by Canada, the entire west coast, and Mexico – all fully legal. Legalisation, regulation and taxation of cannabis is inevitable.

    Hurry up Cayman. We let 18 year olds and civil servants smoke nicotine laced tobacco cigs freely, then ruin their lives should they choose to relax with a joint instead of getting drunk. Let us grow it naturally at home to remove the Jamaican smuggler’s incentive.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    And mean while here in 1950 our the fossils that run the country are afraid to even talk about ganja….
    Backwards thinkers need not be elected today office

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  11. Anonymous says:

    If you think you can get cancer from smoking oils in tobacco but not oils from ganja, you’re a blistering imbecile.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Smoking cannabis doesn’t give you cancer though. Maybe you should do a little research before making yourself sound like a blistering imbecile?

      Anyway, here’s a little learning from scientific journals and well respected doctors for you bud…

      https://nutritionfacts.org/video/does-marijuana-cause-lung-cancer/

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      • Anonymous says:

        All I’m saying is that if it does cause cancer, Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg better go buy some lotto because their luck is astronomical.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Here’s some facts to offset your compendium of bad advice:

        “Lung Cancer is the most preventable of all cancers, and survival rates one of the lowest”

        “On a puff-by-puff basis, cannabis smoke deposits four times more tar in the lungs than tobacco”

        “Smoking cannabis has also been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. Most cannabis smokers mix their cannabis with tobacco. While they tend to smoke less than tobacco smokers, they usually inhale more deeply and hold the smoke in their lungs for longer.”

        “It’s been estimated that smoking four joints (homemade cigarettes mixed with cannabis) may be as damaging to the lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes.”

        “Even smoking cannabis without mixing it with tobacco is potentially dangerous. This is because cannabis also contains substances that can cause cancer.”

        https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/causes/

        https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/how-smoking-causes-cancer

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        • Caymanian says:

          Okay but you do realize you can vaporize to reduce the temperature to the amount needed for decarboxylation to occur? This is lower than the temperature that combustion occurs at.

          Therefore, you still get the medicine, but since you didn’t heat to combust it, or light it on fire, you can’t produce the carcinogens.

          Alternatively, you can bake it into brownies, cakes, foods with butter and you can brew the herb as a tea. All of these ways prevent damage to the body while allowing you to extract the medicine from the herb in a safe manner.

          Peace and love to you.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Hey shit for brains, Bob Marley et al. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2516340/

        • Anonymous says:

          Again, more generalization. Bananas are radioactive yet we eat them fine.

          The study you linked to was based on results from less than 400 people in New Zealand.

          How can you draw accurate statistical conclusions from such a population and apply them to the world? Can assure you that Cayman also has more than 400 people who enjoy cannabis.

        • Anonymous says:

          Not very cool using terms like “shit for brains”. You have something to say, to debate, do it, and keep your drama to yourself.

          From your link: “There were 79 cases of lung cancer and 324 controls. The risk of lung cancer increased 8% (95% CI 2% to 15%) for each joint-year of cannabis smoking, after adjustment for confounding variables including cigarette smoking, and 7% (95% CI 5% to 9%) for each pack-year of cigarette smoking, after adjustment for confounding variables including cannabis smoking. The highest tertile of cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer RR=5.7 (95% CI 1.5 to 21.6), after adjustment for confounding variables including cigarette smoking.”

          The actual mean of cannabis smoking ALONE was not measured, but only within context of cigarette smoking.

          I have to say, though, I really enjoyed the term of measurement “joint-years”. LOLOL! That’s a real winner. “Yes, Fred, it was just 21 joint-years ago that I first started my business, and look at me now.”

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    • Anonymous says:

      I cannot claim to be an expert in the science, but I’m with you and do find edibles the superior choice.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    It’s spreading!!! 🙂

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Time for this trend to carry into this island now. Think about all the money and well paying jobs for Caymanians this could create! Or, we could just keep the current system and keep locking up Caymanians, ruining their futures and putting more money into the hands of criminals. Seems like an easy choice to me.

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