Warren may take cannabis debate to new level
Dennie Warren Jr on Nomination Day
(CNS Election): Dennie Warren Jr, who was nominated on Wednesday to contest the seat of George Town West, is expected to take the cannabis debate in Cayman to a new level, putting it squarely on the agenda for the general election campaign. But he is also keen to promote other aspects of his platform, including tackling the burglary problem in the constituency, the lack of a development across the islands and tackling the historic education challenges. The issue of decriminalizing the use of cannabis for all, however, as well as promoting a medical and licensed growing industry will form a major part of his agenda.
The local George Towner will be running in a four-man race against Jonathan Piercy, a CDP candidate making his third attempt to reach the LA, David Wight, a newcomer to the PPM election platform, and former backbench UDP MLA and radio host Ellio Solomon, who this time is campaigning as an independent.
Warren has, however, a unique selling point and may find that his appearance in the race cuts across party affiliations, as increasing numbers of people in Cayman appreciate the growing acceptance that cannabis has significant medical benefits and that Warren is right about the need for the country to ‘grow its own’ and develop a new local industry while controlling the quality of the extracts given to patients.
Instrumental in persuading the current administration to take a leap from some of the world’s most draconian laws against the use of the plant to legalizing the use of extracts under prescription, Warren has demonstrated his powers of persuasion, which could stand him in good stead for the political arena.
Warren has always been interested in politics, but he told CNS that it felt very different on Nomination Day to be a candidate.
“It feels different,” he said. “I’m used to thinking about politics from the opposite side of the fence, but it feels good to be part of this process that’s historic generally speaking, and I’m looking forward to making a difference.”
Warren said he was less concerned about who he will be up against, as the campaign is about the issues and not the individual people.
“I’m thinking about what needs to be done,” he said, adding that he was confident that he could win the seat in a campaign executed on the issues.
Category: Candidates
So legalize marijuana for personal use or for medical use? Two very different concepts.
Another idea of his that is not in the article is the right to carry a gun on your person. If this is true, that will also affect my vote.
I hope for he and his family’s sake that he doesn’t take cannabis to any debate..
That can’t be his only idea. What about his thoughts on the port, protecting the children and elderly, improving the economy and lowering the cost of living.
Read the article again…
Not one of those topics are mentioned in the article. So what are the answers to the above question? What are his thoughts? Especially the port, the answer to that question solely will decide my vote for me and my family that are registered in various constituencies.
The question is for all candidates.
All the best Dennie! You would be my choice if I could vote in your constituency. Sadly, I’m relegated to a very poor array of candidates in GTS. I’m confident you will focus on the issues and not the personalities of your opponents. Take the high road my friend.
Decriminalizing “personal recreational amounts” would be a good opening step in line with global trends – but smoking in public places or impaired “weed driving” ought to remain a serious, albeit decriminalized, anti-social ticketable infraction.
Dealing, transshipment, supplying, and growing commercial scale recreational high-THC quantities should remain criminalized.
We cannot pretend that smoking weed will cure or inoculate people from cancer.
True that there are medical benefits to doctor-prescribed high-THC varietals for treatment of anxiety disorders (like PTSD), appetite stimulation (like AIDS patients), and nausea (like chemo patients), etc. Ongoing clinical trials on low-THC CBD Oils are anticipated to provide credible efficacy for other medical applications including MS, Parkinsons, etc. The scientific work is not complete.
To promote unsubstantiated miracle cancer curing CBD oil, in advance of the scientific proof, would be the death knell to any credible medical tourism hopes, and may have an inverse effect on insurance coverage for Cayman Islands prescribed medical treatments.
We also can’t pretend we have the domestic appetite, government oversight, professional expertise, or quality control labs, required for a regulated, scalable, local CBD-Oil industry – which means that any local production would be commercially-biased towards mostly recreational purpose, high-THC smokable indicta, sativa, or hybrid plants.
Our laws will need to be amended (in stages) long before we can be taken seriously in a practical local production discussion.
Do some studying before you spew nonsense. NORML.org
You know nothing about what you talking about. Leave it to Mr. Warren, he has an open mind; unlike you.
You just sound worried that you might not get a personal cut from this industry once it becomes active and will no doubt be successful. There is a lot of money to be made and it will help a lot of sick people!
Eating fast food everyday is more dangerous to your health than using cannabis!
I like Dennie. I can personally tell you that he is no ordinary thinker. He thinks big, and Dennie has a nose for sniffing out corruption. He is not scared to speak up for Caymanians. I truly believe he will be an action-person who will push the MLAs to consider important issues
I just don’t think he honestly stands a chance…..a candidate has to be more than just Cannabis. I hear he is trying to say he has other points but in all honesty they are just thrown in there to make it look like substance….
I do wish him the best…
He will prove you that he is the best choice. The cannabis subject is just one of many.
I’m voting Dennie
I personally see nothing wrong with having the herb decriminalised.
Police resources could easily be diverted from arresting harmless offenders, allowing them to place greater emphasis on tackling the street suppliers instead.
We support you Dennie. You are the best choice for GTW. My family and I will be voting for you #TeamWarren