A three-pronged referendum to include votes on a national lottery and the decriminalisation of small amounts of ganja is to be held, several years after it was first proposed.
The two hot topics will be included alongside a vote on the construction of a cruise pier able to take mega-ships, timed to coincide with next year’s general election.
Kenneth Bryan, the tourism minister, who revealed the plan, underlined the questions involved “three critical issues in our country”.
He said, “One of the most compelling arguments for a national lottery is the potential for increasing revenues.
“In most countries, national lotteries are used to fund programmes in sports, as well as projects in community development.”
Bryan added that a national lottery would also decrease the attraction of illegal gambling.
He acknowledged there was a risk that problem gambling would increase and that there was a strong religious lobby against liberalisation.
“A ‘yes’ vote for a national lottery does not mean a Caymanian version of a Florida Powerball lottery would spring up overnight,” Bryan said.
He explained any lottery would be tailored to fit the needs of the country.
But he said if the ‘no’ vote prevailed, there would be “no justification for not increasing the penalties in the proposed illegal gambling bill”.
Bryan added there had also been “widespread” support in Parliament for a public vote on whether marijuana in personal-use amounts should be decriminalised.
“This government is committed to hearing the will of the people because this subject is more about changing lives than changing laws.”
‘Minor infraction’
Bryan added decriminalisation would mean that young people could avoid the burden of criminal convictions for what “can be described as a relatively minor infraction”.
He said other Caribbean nations had also moved to less-draconian policies for small amounts of marijuana or legalised it for personal use altogether, although Cayman would not go down that road.
“It is important that I highlight the difference between legalisation and decriminalisation,” he added.
“In simple terms, legalisation means that marijuana use is fully legal under the law, and you would be able to buy it legally from licensed shops. This is not what the government is intending or suggesting in this referendum.
“Decriminalisation means that marijuana would still be illegal, but a person caught with a small amount would not face serious criminal charges or jail time.
“Instead, it would be treated as a minor offence, similar to getting a traffic ticket, and they would not get a criminal record as a result.”
He added, “If the people vote yes to decriminalisation, the definition of ‘small amount’ would be enshrined in law so there would be no uncertainty as to what that amount is.”
All three referendum questions would be decided by a simple majority of those who voted, he said.
The ganja and gambling questions meant the government was “keeping its word” and delivering on a resolution passed by Parliament two years ago, Bryan said, adding, “I would like to make it clear once more that the government’s goal is not to persuade voters either way, but rather to ensure that when our people go to the polls, they are fully informed and feel confident in making their decision.
“If it is the people’s will to move forward with decriminalisation, and they return a ‘yes’ vote, the government will be expected to respect that decision and to bring forward the necessary legislation to support that outcome.
“If the people vote no, then the current status quo remains.”
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As a rule of thumb, the bigger the ship, the lower the income of the passengers.
We just don’t need them clogging up our streets and making life more difficult for residents and stay over tourists alike.
If we want a cruise business at all we should aim to attract the 4, 5 and 6 star ships.
Legalization of Marijuana will immediately make me stop visiting – and I spend $30K a year on average. Many people like me go to Cayman because it is NOT allowed!
How about dropping duty on essential foods as the UK does with VAT? Make up the difference on duty on medical and small amounts of regalted government vended recreational marajuana? It is everywhere and ready available already in Cayman, why not create a safe enviroment to purchase and regualte quality whilst iradicating the burden of keeping Caymanians free of hungar through povity.
Why not approve the Marijuana for medical use only, instead of smoking it? Isn’t it dangerous when combined with hard liquor? Medicine should be available if properly packaged, and labeled with adequate warning on each package so that the person who takes it will not hurt themselves.
Food prices in the supermarkets medicine in the pharmacies and rent.
Food prices in the supermarkets are rising weekly. Medicine prices and rent are hitting all time highs. Has anyone considered the unemployed, those with incapacities, the aged the infirmed, the prices in the grocery shops and supermarkets are rising, and evading the ability poor, and less fortunate to cope, such as those on minimum wage earners, the elderly, many of whom get not even a dollar of pension, and unable to get government assistance because of the criteria set are so inconsiderate. Is it ok that some people living in the communities are hardly able to eat or having to choose between basic medicine, and food. What of the elderly, and the infirm who have no family helping them in their golden age? Is it ok for some to have more than they cannot afford the basic necessities. Are the authorities at ease with the knowledge that some people are hardly getting by? If you are not ok with the situations, what are you doing about it? Suppose, say out of the possible 84,000 residents only five, or ten individuals fall into these desperate situations, is it ok that these people are hardly getting by? If your answer is in the affirmative what is your explanation?
Public opinion on marijuana may be divided, but the research is clear: today’s marijuana is nothing like the 2% THC potency Woodstock weed of the 1970s. With legalization, marijuana’s potency has skyrocketed to upwards of 99% THC. The greatest concern is marijuana’s effects on the developing brains of young people. Landmark studies have demonstrated that marijuana is associated with psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, worsening PTSD symptoms and even suicidality. The impact on youth is drastic. Research published in 2023 found that teenagers with a marijuana addiction are upwards of 450% more likely to have negative mental health and behavioral outcomes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), today’s marijuana has an addiction rate of 30%, far higher than the 9% addiction rate of just a decade ago. Legalization increases the prevalence of marijuana addiction among youth to an even greater degree. In fact, a study conducted by NYU researchers shows marijuana addiction rates among teens aged 12-17 increase at a 25% higher rate after U.S. states legalize recreational marijuana. We can only expect marijuana’s negative impact on our kids to worsen if legalization spreads. Marijuana poses physical health problems, too. Marijuana use is correlated with a three-to eight-fold increase in head and neck cancers. Daily marijuana use results in a 25% and 42% increase in the odds of having a heart attack and stroke, respectively. The comparison to Big Tobacco isn’t metaphorical, it’s literal. When Canada legalized marijuana in 2018, Altria (the owner of Marlboro and Phillip Morris), invested $1.8 billion in marijuana. Now, Altria is lobbying to legalize marijuana in the United States. Big Tobacco wants to trick the American public again by pushing for marijuana legalization. Don’t be fooled in Cayman. Dr. Joseph Finley
https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/article293034334.html#storylink=cpy
1) Cruise Berthing “NO”
2) Legalized Marijuana “YES” could be a huge government income coffer as found in most of the US states.
3) National Lottery “YES” would be a huge government income coffer! Would also stop the 2 Illegal lottery’s that just send these illegal funds to other countries!