Medical cannabis activist wants to import 'ganja oil'

Medical ganja activist Alan Gordon, in an open letter to Jamaica’s Health Minister copied to The Jamaica Gleaner, asked for a permit to export enough medical ganja oil extract for over 300 Bermuda cancer patients to have 18,000 large doses over a 2-3 month period.  

Gordon says that Bermuda’s Cabinet has previously approved import permits from elsewhere on a per-patient basis, but were experiencing trouble with availability, price and quality which Jamaica seems well suited to alleviate.  Gordon also claims people medical tourists have already been quietly coming to Jamaica for illicit cancer treatments with cannabis oil, because it has shown great promise as a tumour-shrinking anti-cancer drug in hundreds of lab and live animal studies, and thousands of humans in the US, Canada, England, Australia, and elsewhere.  Gordon expressed his concern that many patients are too sick to come to Jamaica, and should not be denied access.

Gordon has also specified that the oil must be grown organically by Rastafarians, as a matter of social justice and “fair trade” principles.  Gordon says he is not a Rastafarian but says that after the gravely ill patients, first consideration must be given to Rastafarians as a way of expressing society’s remorse for oppression of Rastafarians under the old laws.

“I know people are already coming to Jamaica to treat cancer and other serious ailments with cannabis oil, under the table, and more will be coming soon,” says Gordon, adding ”but some people are too sick to travel, and could pay a worthwhile price for Rastafarian grown and processed organic cannabis oil, if it could be shipped.  I believe this could be the best product of its kind in the world, and yet would still be affordable for Bermudians”.

Gordon provided The Gleaner with a copy of the letter, emailed to Opinions, at the same time it was sent to the Minister via email.

The letter sent to the Minister, in its entirety, is as follows:

OPEN LETTER TO HON. DR. FENTON FERGUSON, MINISTER OF HEALTH

(cc: The Jamaica Gleaner)

Dear Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health

Bermuda cancer patients are in need of ganja (cannabis) oil extract  -- “hash oil”  --  and not just for comfort, but as an actual cancer-killing drug.  It is a safe and effective companion treatment to conventional medicines, and even as a stand-alone treatment, especially when other treatments fail.  People people from many countries already quietly travel to Jamaica for this illicit medical tourism.

I write to enquire after an officially sanctioned export of medical quality Jamaican organic ganja oil, to be imported to Bermuda’s Chief Medical Officer under license, to be held for island-bound Bermudian patients.  I feel this import license will be granted, because the relevant Bermudian Minister here has already offered such permits for lower-quality ganja oil imports, on a per-patient basis.

In order to be acceptable, this oil needs to be made from organic indica variety ganja, free of chemical impurities, yet with a high degree of potency/purity.  The ganja must not come into contact with any solvent more toxic than ethanol and/or cold CO2, and would also be acceptable if it were made without any solvents at all, by rinsing flowers and “sugar leaves” (the resin-covered leaves closest to the flowers) in cold water to extract the resin glands with filters.  

I initially wish to import 5 gallons (18.93 liters, which should weigh about 22.72 kg).

I must also insist only upon Rastafarian suppliers/manufacturers, even if their religion precludes the use of alcohol solvents.  My Rasta-only requirement is because Rastafarians:

1.       shun toxic chemicals (which we wish to avoid in medicine); and

2.       have been a beacon of light and hope for Jamaica, drawing significant international appreciation for Jamaica via reggae music, respect for nature, and Biblical interpretation which brings the old faiths to life from across the globe and thousands of years  --  all while leaning away from lure of gang lifestyles. 

Despite values which seem odd to us, Rastafarians are among Jamaica’s greatest riches, no less important than her soil and rain and sea and sun.  Now that ganja laws are going to become sensible, the Rastafarian community deserves this compensation for decades-long ganja-related abuse suffered while we stood by and watched, slack-jawed.  It is the right thing to do, expressing thanks and praise to those who stood the moral high ground during oppression.

I do not wish to diminish Jamaica’s upcoming medical tourism economy for cancer patients who will soon flock to Jamaica.  Even still, with the price difference for ganja oil in Bermuda compared to Jamaica, we can help patients anywhere, while bringing jobs and revenue to Jamaica  --  patients too sick to travel can still benefit from Jamaica’s blessings.  I humbly implore you to respond at the telephone or email address I have left with The Gleaner  --  it could save lives while bolstering Jamaica’s economy.

Grateful regards,

Alan Leonard Gordon

St Davids Island

Bermuda