Late Kenroy Chinnery wanted access to medical marijuana for his seizures– Dr Wheatley
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The Premier was at the time speaking at the opening of the new Jost van Dyke (JvD) Primary School on January 18, 2024, when he called for a moment of silence in remembrance of Chinnery.
“We certainly had a rough start to this year with some of the individuals we've lost and that one really hit me hard because I had numerous conversations with that young man, even about his seizures, because he was asking me when would we get the marijuana bill legalised because it helps him with seizures,” the Premier said.
Dr Wheatley said "it's very tragic" that the Virgin Islands can't legally access "the medical benefits of that plant for things like preventing seizures, which it's very effective in doing.”
The Premier said when he heard the young man had a seizure on the boat and died, his heart dropped.
The VI 'Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020' was passed with amendments some four years ago on June 30, 2020, in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA); however, the bill is yet to become law until it is assented to by the United Kingdom-appointed Governor.
Bill in stalemate
In January 2023, Premier Wheatley announced in an update that the United Kingdom (UK) and the Government of the Virgin Islands had found a way forward as it related to the legalisation of medicinal cannabis in the territory; however, one year later the bill is still in a stalemate.
Dr Wheatley added that the UK Home Office was already supportive of the move and is interested in ensuring that the VI has the expertise and regime in place for the rollout of medicinal marijuana in a responsible manner.
“And that's something that we're committed to as well because, of course, we know that any substance can be abused and it's important that you have structures and regimes in place,” had said in a January 23, 2023, press conference.
After falling into the water, Chinnery was reportedly pulled out in an unconscious state and later pronounced dead.
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47 Responses to “Late Kenroy Chinnery wanted access to medical marijuana for his seizures– Dr Wheatley”
This is serious when it is legalized there is a choice & assurance of quality. Some strains help seizures more than others and right now smokers dont even know what strain they are getting. In recent years people are lucky if its not laced and quality is not assured with mold & unknown pesticides unless they take a risk of imprisonment and grow it illegally to properly treat their condition whether it be depression or a history of seizure.
Disregarding the memory of the departed person's plea & possible preventable death as an attack on the premier is distasteful.
Just get the country’s infrastructure sorted out and stop trying to pull the wool over the people’s eyes.
What amount will be sold as weed on the street by the boys on their scooters.
School children say the same high up person or persons pushing this initiative like to smoke the herb themselves.
Its called honoring his will after death. If the premier stay silent due to politics and distance himself, that would be the sick move.
If he as premier says his heart sank when he heard the man died of a seizure after speaking of needing cannabis for his seizures in the past, I believe the right thing to do is expediate or even rename the law in his honor. Its been four years. People are suffering & strupes dying.
What a leader
Incidentally, the UK is one of the greatest cultivator of medical marijuana but it is primarily for export. Is this a case that it is not good for Britons but it is good for others outside of the UK? Hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy!! Further medical marijuana was approved in 2018 in the UK, but only for specific medical conditions.
happen, others watch things happen, and others again wonder the hell happen. Virgin Islanders fall into the last two categories. In the 19th Century, the planter class bolted from the territory, leaving it as a bird sanctuary, an impoverished and poorly educated territory. It was tagged as the poor house of the West Indies. It was neglected and forgotten with the level of services provided by the UK being almost at a vanishing point. Consequently, the level of education was below that of other regional Anglophone colonies. As such, the Leeward Islands Federations sent civil servants to work in the BVI, ie, teachers, police, public works, etc. And the civil servants were not shy about reminding Virgin Islanders as to why they were sent to the BVI, ie, they could not perform routine tasks effectively .That behavior and attitude took on a life of its own, for some Virgin Islanders believe that if you come from above Round Rock you were bright and all knowing and your opinion carry more weight than the opinion of locals. Thus, the saying, “ You think I come from above Round Rock.”
The bottom line is that despite the put down Virgin Islanders persevered and moved the BVI from a little forgotten and neglected sleepy hollow, poor house of the West Indies to today having one of highest standard of living, quality of life and per capita income in the region. All roads now lead to the VI. Nevertheless, Virgin Islanders have forgotten their history and letting their guards down, focusing on the BIGS, while their hold on their country slip away.. The VI socioeconomic success have peaked the UK’s interest, demonstrating a renewed interest, putting their citizens in key positions in the territory. Further, while Virgin Islanders slumber others are establishing a foothold. And Virgin Islanders blind, deaf, dumb, with no feel to what is going on. They are close to wondering what the hell happened. The above Round Rock mentality is back and stronger than ever. And when Virgin Islanders awake from their slumber, lethargic, nonchalant, etc attitude, they will be a minority in their own country not just in population but also in other areas that matter.
[lets lead like like eagles, not careen off the cliff as buffaloes]
They treat different ailments. And there may be weed on JVD or the deceased may have been smoker BUT was he smoking the right strain for his ailment? Probably not because he’d have to order the specific seeds and have it grown for his illness.
You can’t pick up Girl Scout cookies or runtz which is good for depression and think it will be as effective as Charlottes web Hemp at treating seizures.
Both thc & cbd have their place in medicine let the people pick their own strains & grow their own!