CANNABIS REFERENDUM OUTCOME: ‘SMOKE’ SIGNALS AWAITED

By some accounts, there’s already a noticeable uptick in the aroma of cannabis in some places, suggesting an increase in usage since the outcome of the April referendum.

In response to the question ‘Do you support the decriminalisation of the consumption and possession of small amounts of cannabis?’, 57 per cent voted in favour to 37 per cent against in the non-binding plebiscite.

Cannabis possession is still illegal in the Cayman Islands with a fine of KYD$3,000 and up to two years in jail.

The issue was brought up during the annual Royal Cayman Islands Police Service(RCIPS) Crime Statistics press conference. Responding to a question posed by Caymanian Times, Police Commissioner Kurt Walton stated: “The people have spoken. That is going to be a national policy…However, I am keen to know and keen to be involved in what that looks like. So what are the considerations around it? What does it look like for policing? What challenges does it present for policing?”

Issues such as ‘Is it openly going to be smoked in public parks and public beaches’, and ‘What quantities of cannabis would be permissible’ are still outstanding.

“My point there is, that’s a national policy,” Commissioner Walton said, “And I am keen to know what it is going to look like as far as how that’s going to be regulated.”

On the question of whether this will now lead to an increase in demand for cannabis, the Commissioner has no doubts: “One hundred per cent there will be an increase in demand. No doubt now there would be people who chose not to smoke because of fear of being prosecuted. Perhaps they want to smoke but once you decriminalise it…I expect to see an increase.”

Commissioner Walton expects that policing it would present some specific challenges for the RCIPs but said he expects to be involved in the policy formulation for the new law which is now awaited.

In the interim, unless and until relevant legislation is enacted, cannabis possession remains illegal in Cayman resulting on summary conviction to a fine of KYD$3,000 and up to two years in jail.

According to the RCIPS 2024 Crime Report, last year as part of proactive investigations, the Crime Task Force recovered 930 Kilograms or 2050 Lbs. of ganja with a conservative estimated street value of KYD$1,640,000.

The issue of the Cayman referendum question on decriminalising small quantities of cannabis possession attracted much attention in the global mainstream and specialist media.