A grassroots group of about 20 members has formed a U.S. Virgin Islands chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, with goals of increasing membership, educating the public about medical marijuana, and decriminalize possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana.
“Initially we want to spread the word about the truth and benefits of medical marijuana,” said Linda Adler, USVI NORML’s executive director.
Adler got involved because her 21 year-old son suffers from Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory disease of the intestines. She said he gets relief and a level of normalcy by using medical marijuana.
“We don’t advocate smoking marijuana,” Adler said. “It can be ingested, used as a tincture, made into cream or oil, and crushed then put in gel caps.”
She said medical marijuana doesn’t get the user high, it just brings patients up to a level of normalcy. According to Adler, the cannabinoids in the leaves of the plant are the medicinal part and not the buds with THC that create the high.
It can be used to relieve pain and symptoms related to multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and more.
“We want to work with and get doctors and the local medical community on board now,” Adler said.
The reformers’ goals are to make medical marijuana legal for people with specific chronic diseases and for people who use it as a religious sacrament. Members wish to establish guidelines for its use, possession, cultivation, procurement and distribution.
The group will work to decriminalize the possession of up to 2.5 ounces. The penalty for possession of this quantity would result in a civil ticket and fine of as much as $250.
Underage offenders would be mandated to do drug use/abuse counseling with costs offset by fines collected.
“We want to see gun and gang violence go away and writing decriminalization laws could diminish crime in the Virgin Islands,” Adler said.
Another goal is to write provisions into law to allow for the future commerce of cannabis-based business.
This would be followed by plans to bring legislation that will boost tourism, private business and agricultural growth locally, which the group believes would make the Virgin Islands a prime destination for tourists from the 13 United States which have legalized medical marijuana.
“We will, as a chapter, promote to domestic and international pro-cannabis sectors, both for financial support to get the laws changed, and then to promote safe tourism for the so-inclined tourists,” Adler said.
Adler added that membership applications can be found at the group’s website at www.usvinorml.org. Further information can be obtained or support offered by sending an e-mail to Adler at lovingadler@gmail.com or 244-9179.
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[…] pushed for the Virgin Islands to allow medical marijuana for decades before the law changed in 2019. But full implementation continues to flounder as policymakers […]
[…] pushed for the Virgin Islands to allow medical marijuana for decades before the law changed in 2019. But full implementation continues to flounder as policymakers […]
A grassroots group of about 20 members has formed a U.S. Virgin Islands chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, with goals of increasing membership, educating the public about medical marijuana, and decriminalize possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana.
[…] pushed for the Virgin Islands to allow medical marijuana for decades before the law changed in 2019. But full implementation continues to flounder as policymakers […]
[…] pushed for the Virgin Islands to allow medical marijuana for decades before the law changed in 2019. But full implementation continues to flounder as policymakers […]