Legal ganja hits new high in US election

| 10/11/2020 | 58 Comments

(CNS): Several more states in the US voted in last Tuesday’s elections to legalise the use of ganja in various down ballot referendums across the country. Coupled with the changing attitude towards the use of cannabis, Joe Biden’s win has seen cannabis stocks soar, given the increased likelihood of the drug’s decriminalisation. The results demonstrate increasing support for legalised ganja across geographic and party lines.

Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota all cleared cannabis for recreational adult use, bringing the total number of states where it is legal to 15.

“They passed overwhelmingly; they were not close races,” John Hudak, a cannabis policy expert and deputy director at the Brookings Institution, told CNN. “This is a resounding win for cannabis.”

The US recreational and medical ganja industry is expected to post $19 billion in sales this year, and with more states, such as New York and Pennsylvania, likely to add to the list in 2021, sales could reach $25 billion.

Despite the increasing widespread support right across the country for legalisation, there are still some roadblocks at the federal level. A Senate led by Republican Mitch McConnell will mean cannabis legislative measures from a Biden administration won’t make it to the floor, given the leader’s personal opposition.

This, some industry experts say, is not the end of the world for the growing sector but a real shame for many reasons, not least the potential that a fully legalised national cannabis industry could have in spurring economic growth in the wake of the pandemic.


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Category: USA, World News

Comments (58)

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  1. Anon says:

    I was a prosecutor for 30 years. I advocate gun rights and support Trump, I believe anyone who uses drugs or alcohol is a fool, and if I see a person doing so I think less of them. Drugs and alcohol harm the people who use them, their families, and society in general. That being said, I also believe that use of all drugs should be decriminalized. In my experience the persons who produce, market, and financially benefit from illegal drugs usually do not face criminal penalties. Moreover, the money produced in the drug trade ends up corrupting the police and other government officials. In fact, it is obvious that the main reason drugs are illegal is to keep the bribe money flowing to government, and the laundered (or not) money flowing into banks and businesses.

    Drugs should, however, could and should regulated like alcohol, as to age of users and location, etc. to minimize nuisance and negative impact to the public. It would also be helpful to allow civil suits (as is the case with cigarettes) so that the victims of drugs could sue the producers and sellers for damages.

  2. Al Catraz says:

    Americans in those 15 states who use ganja to relax are going to be less inclined to travel to the shrinking number of places where they can’t do that.

    • Anonymous says:

      Good, keep the money North. Besides, don’t you hate Americans? Or, anyone that’s not at least 45th generation Caymanian?

  3. Anonymous says:

    Stop with the xenophobic and generalization BS! A failed education system because of constant political manipulation speaks more to many Caymanians being under-educated than to their intelligence!

    But I guess some of the same “brainiacs” who criticize us as being stupid are the same ones who buy into the conspiracy theories of Trump, Breitbart, et al. Go figure!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Legalise in Cayman, only allow homegrown.

    Give licences to Caymanians only to keep the business local and only allow the local distributors to sell.

    Do not publish the list of growers/distributors or the US will ban them from entering their country.

    Keep it all in Cayman and help the Cayman farmers.

    PS Cayman Parrots won’t eat the crops so will be safer from being shot

  5. Anonymous says:

    It looks like that they want all drugs decriminalized. Oregon recently decriminalized cocaine, heroin, Methamphetamine and other drugs. I don’t want any of them in my body, including cigarettes and alcohol. Say NO to Drugs!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Guess what? Like gay marriages, just because it’s legal it doesn’t mean YOU have to partake. It just removes your ability to dictate what another grown adult can do with their body, which is the obvious and sole reason why conservatives oppose anything to do with bodily autonomy.

      The decriminalization is to prevent filling up for-profit prisons with addicts and treating them correctly – as medical issues instead of criminal. It’s still illegal to distribute cocaine, but at least if you’re an addict you’re more likely to receive the help you need instead of getting caught in the for-profit prison cycle.

      Come off the reefer madness propaganda, educate yourselves with material from 2020 instead of 1960, and try some ah this Caymanian homegrown. It’ll calm ya nerves mama.

    • Anonymous says:

      just because it is legal doesn’t force you to take them.

      Although you probably are taking drugs already like caffeine in coffee, opium in poppyseed buns or muffins. Tylenol, advil, etc.

      why do some people believe they have the right to police what people do with their own bodies.

      Obesity is the biggest costs to health care, so lets start policing sugary and fatty foods

  6. Anonymous says:

    Ganja is widely available in Cayman.

    It’s far less dangerous than liquor and tobacco. Make it fully legal to remove any criminal involvement

    • Anonymous says:

      where? still looking

      • Anonymous says:

        You can get up to pounds discretely delivered with one phone call if you know the right people in Cayman.

        Cayman is the most lucrative black market for weed. We need to dismantle it by allowing Caymanians to grow their own. Charge like a drivers license or something to generate some revenue instead of spending it on 19 year Olds with a spliff in their car.

    • Anonymous says:

      not as widely available as cocaine

  7. Juniper says:

    “Joe Biden’s win…” Excuse me? Ain’t over yet!

    • Anonymous says:

      #fournoreyears

    • Anonymous says:

      It is and you need to understand that 5 million people voted for him over the orange clown.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yea, if you count the illegal votes..170 year olds voting. WOW! That’s just the tip of all the fraud that’s happening!

        CNS: There are a lot of completely bogus claims of fraud on social media. The reason all the law suits are being thrown out is that there is no actual proof of fraud.

        • Anonymous says:

          CNS, I give you so much credit for trying to reason with lunatics.

        • Juniper says:

          Hey CNS, Just like the senate found no Russian interference in the 2016 election? Keep touting the party line. Your masters are proud of you. Shill

          CNS: Silly boy! Our masters are truth and reason.

          I don’t know what point you are trying to make. Yes, there was Russian interference in the 2016 election, which has been acknowledged by the US intelligence community and the bi-partisan Senate committee, as well as intelligence agencies and governments around the world. Russian nationals and entities have been charged in absentia.

          It is generally accepted by everyone except the most fervent Trump supporters that this is true because of tons and tons and tons of evidence that they tried to influence voters by various means, especially riling up people on social media with fake news. It is not known if he would have won anyway. I believe he probably would.

          However, there is no evidence that there was widespread election fraud (i.e. adding illegitimate votes or destroying legitimate votes or illegally changing votes) in either the 2016 or the 2020 election.

          Right now Team Trump is filing a whole bunch of law suits alleging fraud but they are all failing because there is no evidence, just a bunch of trolls on social media spouting crap and Trump doing his thing.

          • Juniper says:

            You and some of your readers need a lesson in American civics. Not a lesson, I understand, that is taught in Caymanian schools.

            Just because a presidential opponent claims to have won, and have the mainstream media verify his claim, does not make them a winner.

            To save your readers having to read how it works I will just post the link here instead (https://civicsandcitizenship.org/simple-civics-101/) and they can research if they want. You, on the other hand, can gve your longwinded, canned liberal responses. (did you copy that from MSNBC. You’re laughable at best)

            I’ll check back here with you in a few for your serving of humble pie when they announce DJT as the next president.

            CNS: So, will you eat humble pie here on CNS if that doesn’t happen? Promise?

            I know you’re upset and lashing out but you need to get a grip on reality. Yes, we understand how the Electoral College works. But do you remember how Hillary Clinton conceded after it was called by the media on 9th November 2016, one day after the elections? Here’s Trump claiming victory shortly afterwards.

            The media call the elections every four years when one candidate no longer has a path to win. It’s not a guess, it’s maths. DJT is making a fool of himself.

            • Juniper says:

              See you soon!

              • Anonymous says:

                Hope you know the Trump cult is about trainwreck!! Get off while you can, he is only speeding up, doesn’t care about you, and it doesn’t look good!!

                Attacking news outlets will solve nothing. They don’t make up news like this fake president, they only report on facts. Don’t like? TOUGH!

            • Anonymous says:

              Thank you, CNS.

        • Anonymous says:

          CNS As an outlet that reports news, I guess you don’t read much news outside of your rock. You should try paying attention a little more closely.

          CNS: That was not a claim of fraud. The suit was over whether counties in Pennsylvania could include mail-in ballots in their final vote tallies where the voter had failed to provide required ID by Monday and not give them more time. It was a technical decision, affected a handful of votes and will make no difference whatsoever to the final tally, which puts Biden ahead by about 55,000 votes.

        • Anonymous says:

          I guess the judge throwing out the votes in Pennsylvania was just make-believe to. Wait wait, you missed that one right

          CNS: That was not a claim of fraud. The suit was over whether counties in Pennsylvania could include mail-in ballots in their final vote tallies where the voter had failed to provide required ID by Monday and not give them more time. It was a technical decision, affected a handful of votes and will make no difference whatsoever to the final tally, which puts Biden ahead by about 55,000 votes.

      • Anonymous says:

        Comments containing insults can’t be taken seriously.

        • Anonymous says:

          so you’re saying you can’t take anything the Trump says or tweets seriously?

          That is not very effective for a “leader”

        • Anonymous says:

          Cry me a river

        • Anonymous says:

          Insults AND blanket statements;
          “which is the obvious and sole reason why conservatives oppose anything to do with bodily autonomy”
          Such a ridiculous blanket statement of which the person obviously know nothing about.

    • Anonymous says:

      But if Trump won and dems were saying it’s not over, you would tell them to get over it. Biden won. Deal with it. Just like how we had to deal with Trump winning. I’m not a fan of both, but this is the outcome, just move on.

    • Anonymous says:

      paying off the electoral college to vote for him next, after all the law suits fail.

    • Anonymous says:

      Trumps now at 232 electoral votes Biden’s at 227 seems CNS is also run by the demogogs

      CNS: I don’t think you understand how it works.

      • Anonymous says:

        No. Trump is at 217 Biden is at 290. It’s over, even the republicans know it. Grow a brain cell.

      • Anonymous says:

        It is all over for Trump. Alternative facts machine can’t generate any electoral college votes or imaginary inauguration crowds this time. All the best in reversing 4 years of brainwashing.

  8. SSM345 says:

    With no cruise industry, this is how our Govt should be looking to plug the gap; ganja tourism (stay-over tourism).

    Get in on it now before the rest of the Caribbean, in fact the World is now looking to move towards it and the way things move down here, we will probably be left as the only place that hasn’t done anything about it.

    It will more than likely be legalized on the Moon first before Cayman at the rate our illustrious “Leaders” act on anything.

    If anything, you will be able to hire every single person with a ganja conviction that cannot get work anywhere else…..unemployment issues go down right off the bat.

    But I am willing to put my left nut on discussions on this topic already happening behind closed doors so that certain parties get all the rights/import/export licenses etc and I would bet my right nut that they are the ones of such Christian notoriety and esteem that you will think it a mistake when it all comes to light further down the road.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Amphetamines, including methamphetamine, were first synthesized in the early part of the 20th century, although they were not identified for medical use until the 1930s. First manufactured as a bronchial dilator, they were quickly prescribed for a variety of other conditions—narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder, obesity, and fatigue.

    American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton founded Coca-Cola in 1886 with a beverage concoction of cocaine and sugary syrup.

    The company removed cocaine from its products in 1903—a move likely motivated more by racial bias and tightening regulations than by health concerns.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Blazing a trail for the future.

  11. Anonymous says:

    We do not need anymore idiots in Cayman burning up their brain. They barely have any sense, ambition, or decorum as it is.

    • Anonymous says:

      What I do with my brain shouldn’t bother you.

      • Anonymous says:

        Even worse when they refer to us as “they”. Obviously na from ya and none of their business.

      • Anonymous says:

        3:51 pm, when u burn up.your brain, and become a burden on government, the tax payets money will support you, so you see it does bother me and all of us

        • Anonymous says:

          But that’s all due to insufficient rehab facilities or knowledge on island. When it’s legalized than the money can be used for rehabilitation and also subsidize schools. In my mind it’s a win win to get that and keep the power from the drug cartel. But what do I know… I fry my brain on plants.

    • Anonymous says:

      So make alcohol illegal then. All it does it cause DUI deaths and stabbing at night clubs.

      What justification do you offer for the double standard?

      In Cayman, Cannabis flower is illegal because it is scheduled as having no recognized medical benefit, yet its oil is legally imported and prescribed by a medical practice.

      What justification do you have for this inconsistency in the law?

    • SSM345 says:

      3:12pm

      I see there are still those amongst us who abide by the “Reefer Madness” diatribe that was spouted decades ago and has since been turned upside down by more medical evidence than Quaker has Oats.

      Are you one of those that also thinks ganja is the gateway drug to all others whilst alcohol and cigarettes are not THE gateway drugs?

      Maybe do some research, we live in 2020, not the 1940s.

    • Anonymous says:

      We should get a life first before telling anyone else how to live theirs. Its not Ganja that has Caymanians at the bottom of the brain pool. It is the total fear of being educated or dealing with an educated person.

    • "Anonymousir" says:

      you be surprised who smokes it at your work place … possibly everybody but you!

  12. Anonymous says:

    I’m yet to find a valid argument for not legalizing personal growing here, and open to discussion. In my opinion, it would kill the cash cow they smuggle along with the guns etc.

    “smoking is bad” – then why allow tobacco? Besides, it can be vaped or baked into sweets for safe ROA

    “it makes you lazy” – I have a Master’s degree and grow my own on my own land. I also make 5k+ KYD a month. I was a previous alcoholic, and prefer it to relax when I get home in the evening. Sober for 9 years this coming Dec 31st.

    “it legitimizes the drug lords” – I’d never buy any of that brown crap from Jamaica ever again if personal growing was legal. I can only hide a few plants safely so sometimes I check the rasta next door for a quarter pound. Sucks that I might’ve supported a gun coming in, but there’s an easy way to fix this.

    “you don’t need drugs to relax or live happy” – ok boss, I see you with that 3rd cup of coffee at 2:30 pm. Taking the regular dose of Zzquil tonight to fall asleep too? Popped that 1mg Lorazepam for anxiety lately? What about those anti-depressant pills your daughter is on and all of those Adderall you son takes?

    “just get it prescribed legally” – insurance won’t cover it and I must pay for a follow up every 3 months? $115 for a lil half a gram of oil? Doctor’s Express is appreciated for their services but why give them a monopoly? There’s brilliant Caymanian chemists who could extract the oil locally. Why not export instead of import?

    “it makes it easier for teens to get” – actually no, studies show that teen use decreases in legal places. Why? Because instead of going down rock hole to buy a 5 from a stranger, it would be placed behind a controlled counter like alcohol/tobacco.

    Prohibition of Alcohol created a billion dollar black market. Have we not learned? Cannabis tourism has generated millions and millions in revenue in legalized states.

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Thank you for your testimony. It seems a no-brainer to me; we can either fight a winless war against the profiteers that bring ganja in, or we can benefit as a territory by decrminalising/legalising it, and keeping that money here in the governmental coffers. People gonna use, it’s just a question of who benefits from those sales. No brainer.

    • SSM345 says:

      Smoking anything is bad for the lungs; that’s about it for the list of harmful side-effects from ganja usage.

    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you! No weed! No Vote

  13. "Anonymousir" says:

    yeah cayman, what are you waiting on ?? just want to keep locking people up for smoking a spliff?? GET A DAMN GRIP. ALDEN and his fake promises to decriminalize weed/ganja/kaya/mary-jane/the devils lettuce. what ever you call it .. YOU REMEMBER PPMs false claims about decriminalizing it? Just to win the the last election? Lets see what ALDEN and KEKE (McKeeva) GOING TO DO for 2021!!!

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