to begin medical cannabis research.137 One Member of Parliament in the Consultations warned that we had already “lost a generation and a half of research.” 5.51. The Commission is of the view that, apart from the economic rationale, brilliant and talented researchers from the Caribbean deserve opportunities to contribute to the growing field of medical and scientific knowledge that surrounds cannabis/ marijuana at this juncture.
Regulating Medical Marijuana as Part of a New Law Reform Model
5.52. The Portugal and Israel experiences demonstrate that law reform can positively impact the prevalence of public health complications of all drugs and social justice imperatives. Portugal decriminalised cannabis/ marijuana in 2001. The positive impact on population health was attributed in part to the change in drug policy, but in large part to the increased investment in harm reduction, prevention and treatment programs. Similarly, in Israel, fines and probation are the methods of control for users. Israel also invests heavily in medical marijuana research. This points to a law reform model that is proactive and will include, as a strategy, a concentrated focus on harm reduction with appropriate regulation, as CARICOM committed to do in 2002. 5.53. In terms of the specific regulatory controls that are required for Medical Marijuana itself, several models for regulating cannabis/ marijuana for medicinal purposes now exist which CARICOM can draw from. These include: Liberal Access: Access to medical marijuana for a wide range of disorders. Access is not limited to qualifying conditions that have some evidence to support use. This is the model in many states in the USA and Canada. Some commercially oriented market models allow for a wide range of products and preparations but have the framework to restrict risky products (Washington and Colorado) under a liberal access model. Restricted: This model allows access to marijuana for persons with a qualifying condition and/ or a restricted access to a limited product range. For example, access to medical marijuana may be granted by the Attorney General after approval by the Ministry of Health (Suriname). Examples include limits on products in the market through a licensing regimen. (Uruguay, Jamaica); Restricted product range: Smokable marijuana not allowed, allows other products for qualifying condition. (Minnesota, New York). Highly Restricted: Sixteen States (USA) have non- THC policy which allow access to only products with no – THC or low- THC/CBD ratio such as CBD oils to treat a list of qualifying conditions. Under this model, doctors cannot write prescriptions for medical marijuana, but can only certify conditions or make recommendations. Physician certification: Only three States require physician certification (New York, Maryland and Massachusetts). The commonest qualifying conditions for medical marijuana are (cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, seizures, and pain). 5.54. Legalization, combined with strict health‐focused regulation, provides the optimum opportunity for a state to reduce the harms associated with cannabis use, more so than partial decriminalization. An under‐regulated approach may lead to an increase in cannabis use or abuse. Finding the right balance of regulations and effectively implementing and enforcing them is the key to ensuring that there is a net benefit to public health and safety while protecting those who are vulnerable to cannabis related harms.
Use of Cannabis in Sport
5.55. The use of cannabis in sports is a particularly controversial issue as there is conflicting evidence on its impact on the athlete. Traditionally, its detrimental effects on performance has been publicized, especially as it relates to decreased coordination, distorted spatial perception and altered perception and awareness of the passage of time.138
137https://doctorsfordagga.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/cap-president-tt-perfect-for-medical-cannabis-research-https-t-co-ua0wve5syg-medicaldagga/;
Doctors for Dagga, May 21, 2018. 138 Huestis et al (2011)
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