Retired Jamaican Sprinter Michael Frater Opens Medical Marijuana Dispensary

A personal health crisis is what Jamaican Olympian Michael Frater said pushed him to open the 4/20 Therapeutic Bliss dispensary in Kingston last weekend.

The 38-year-old Jamaican athlete said that persistent problems with his knees forced him to retire five years ago. He said doctors could not find a solution to his bad knee after visits to The University Hospital of the West Indies and a hospital in France.

After months of severe problems that rendered him incapable of walking at one point, Frater’s father suggested that he try cannabis oil. Frater said he tried it and within a month, he felt ‘brand new’.

“I started studying a lot about it and realized that a drug that has been taboo for most of my life is really a miracle drug. It’s really a drug that once taken properly with the proper prescription, the medicinal purposes are exponential,” he said,

Jamaica’s Minister of Sports, Olivia Grange, who attended the opening, applauded the retired Olympian for his initiative.

- Advertisement -

“What is important about what you are doing is that you are not just an athlete who at the end of your active career, sit down, fold your arms and wait for something to happen, you have set an excellent example for others to follow,” said Minister Grange. She urged more Jamaican athletes to get involved in business on the island.

Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda, former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell and West Indies cricket star Chris Gayle were also among the invited guests.

 

More Stories

Grenada’s Opposition leader Dr Keith Mitchell says he will not be seeking re-election

Former Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell collapses during political meeting

Former Grenadian Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell collapsed on Monday evening while addressing supporters of the New National Party (NNP) at a political meeting...
Suriname Joins World Bank's International Development Association as Newest Member

Local World Bank employees in Jamaica now exempt from income tax

In a move that reinforces Jamaica’s relationship with the World Bank, the Senate passed legislation on March 14 exempting locally recruited World Bank employees...
Vishnu Dhanpaul Trinidad cabinet

New Trinidad PM Stuart Young announces new cabinet appointments

Newly-appointed Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Stuart Young has unveiled his Cabinet, introducing several new appointments while retaining many key ministers. The official announcement...
Bahamas Health Minister

Bahamas Health Minister defends Cuban health workers amid US criticism

Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville has defended the presence of Cuban health workers in The Bahamas, emphasizing their crucial role in the country’s optometry...
Trinidad Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley

Dr. Keith Rowley calls for Trinidad to leave Privy Council in final address as PM

Former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley used his final address in office to make a passionate case for Trinidad and Tobago’s exit from the...
Stuart Young

Stuart Young sworn in as Trinidad and Tobago’s 8th Prime Minister

In a historic ceremony at the President's House this morning, Stuart Young was sworn in as the 8th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago,...
Horace Chang Jamaica

Jamaica on track for historic low murder rate, says Minister Chang

Jamaica could be on track to record fewer than 1,000 murders in a single year for the first time in recent history, as the...
Guyana G7

G7 condemns Venezuela’s naval threats against Guyana

The G7 nations have issued a strong rebuke to Venezuela over its continued naval incursions into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), calling them “unacceptable”...
Audrey Marks, Delano Seiveright

Senators Audrey Marks, Delano Seiveright appointed to ministerial roles

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness has appointed two newly sworn-in government senators, Audrey Marks and Delano Seiveright, to ministerial positions, reinforcing his Administration’s focus...
Antigua and Barbuda says it will accept nationals deported from the US

Antigua and Barbuda seeks clarification on draft US travel ban proposal

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has formally sought clarification from the United States following reports that the Caribbean nation could be among the...

Latest Articles

Skip to content