🌿 Hemp products removed from Cayman stores due to local laws
🔍 CMO clarifies that the removal is due to legislation, not a directive from the Public Health Department
Beauty, cosmetic, and other products containing hemp have been removed from local stores in the Cayman Islands due to existing legislation that prohibits the consumption, use, or possession of any cannabinoid product. The removal of these products, which contain only trace amounts of THC, has been attributed to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Nick Gent, who had issued guidelines to healthcare professionals about the sale of hemp. However, Dr. Gent clarified that the removal was due to the local legislation and not any directive from the Public Health Department. 🚫
Despite changes to the Misuse of Drugs Law that allow the use of medical marijuana with a prescription, the law does not exempt products that contain only small amounts of cannabinoids. As a result, even products like hemp soap or hemp seed milk, which have been available in the Cayman Islands for several years, are considered illegal unless prescribed by a doctor. This has caused concern among retailers who fear getting ensnared within the law. Dr. Gent and Health Minister Sabrina Turner discussed the issue on Radio Cayman’s talk show, On The Record, where they emphasized the need for a wider discussion about hemp and cannabinoids to shape a proper legislative framework. 📻
Dr. Gent also highlighted the measures taken by the Public Health Department regarding the prescription of narcotics, such as introducing rules for doctors to only prescribe addictive medicines like opioids on a monthly basis. However, this has raised public concern about the affordability of regular doctor visits, especially given the limitations on doctor visits in most health insurance plans. 💊
