Doctors put medical cannabis back on the shelf

| 17/08/2020 | 24 Comments

(CNS): Almost one year after Customs and Border Control (CBC) seized the legal cannabis that Doctors Express was prescribing to its patients, the medicine has been returned and is back on the clinic’s pharmacy shelves. The raid at the medical practice was triggered by a memo from Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee to doctors in the jurisdiction to stop prescribing vaporizable medical cannabis products, even though there is no prohibition in the law.

A press release from the clinic, which is located on Godfrey Nixon Way in George Town, said the goods had been returned earlier this month after the CMO rescinded the memo and its directive over vaped cannabis, “lifting any purported prohibition on the prescribing and dispensing of medical cannabis in the Cayman Islands”.

The clinic said patients can once again “benefit from vaporisable medical cannabis, which is shown to have ten times the bioavailability of ingestible medical cannabis oils”. The doctors prescribe the medical cannabis to patients suffering from a range of specific illnesses, such as Crohn’s disease, as well as for pain management and anxiety.

Despite the return of their goods and the lifting of the temporary prohibition on these legal cannabis oils, Doctors Express and the government are still locked in a legal battle. The clinic filed a judicial review last year and as a result the owners said they were unable to comment further about the case, which is expected to be heard at the end of this month.

It is understood that after the raid last September, no one was ever arrested and no charges were ever brought against the owners. The cease and desist memo was issued by the CMO, despite the fact that the legislature legalized the medical use of cannabis oils and tinctures on prescription from registered doctors without any specific directions on how it would be prescribed and consumed.

Immediately after the raid last year CNS asked CBC under what part of the Misuse of Drugs Law the medical cannabis was seized, but we have still not received an answer.


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Category: Health, Medical Health

Comments (24)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Another example of laws being complied with only after a complaint or a lawsuit.

    When laws are not enforced, anarchy follows. … there can be no civilization without legality.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Immediately after the raid last year CNS asked CBC under what part of the Misuse of Drugs Law the medical cannabis was seized, but we have still not received an answer.

    Like Carlin said government doesn’t care what drugs you do they only care who buy them from. You won’t get an answer either.

  3. Anonymous says:

    So you can vape it but you can’t smoke the natural herb? Hmmm.

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    • Anonymous says:

      “smoking is bad for you” said the person who did last did cardio exercise 25 years ago in P.E. at school and eats 2 large #2’s to themselves for dinner. Don’t forget the diet coke to balance it out.

      Somehow such behavior, drinking toxic alcohol and smoking tobacco is perfectly fine though.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Thank you Dr Express. I received my prescription yesterday an I got the best night sleep I’ve had since March. My neck pain is noticeably reduced, and I actually want to speak to my wife this morning lol! Wake up Cayman. This is the future

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you to the local farmers too who produce locally grown herb. Never gone without a supply for years now.

      10x better quality than the smuggled brown crap and makes significantly better tea.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    This is good news and I hope that DE gets a huge financial settlement from CBC and the CMO. The good professionals at DE have only tried to always do what is best for their patients.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Give it up CIG, you need money…. well get your asses into the LA and make it legal for all use.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Cannabis is illegal due to being scheduled for high abuse and no medical benefits..

    (alcohol and tobacco aside)

    If it is being medically prescribed, it is time to reschedule cannabis. There is inconsistency in the law. Decriminalization is just a tease and always ends up in recreational use, along with revenue from licenses, exports, etc.

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    • Anonymous says:

      CBD oil is not even considered a drug anymore by the FDA. Look for yourself. Its now under Schedule 5.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I think 6:57pm was misunderstood. They’re actually agreeing with you that it shouldn’t even be considered a harmful drug anymore if there’s recognized medical applications.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I believe that is only CBD oil that is derived from hemp. Not when derived from cannabis.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    I hope they sue the crap out of the CBC.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Legalise it!

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  10. Anonymous says:

    The land of Anarchy and Absurd.

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    • BruisedBreadfruit says:

      Anarchy? Your comment is absurd.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If Cayman had authorities the events described in the article wouldn’t have happened.
        Nonrecognition of authorities and laws is equal to its absence..

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