Alder-dam awaits? Island considers cannabis legalisation

Wednesday 13 June 2018

One of the smallest Channel Islands could today taking a big step towards becoming what some have dubbed “Amsterdam-on-sea.”

Members of the Alderney’s government are set to discuss the “production, consumption, licensing and criminalisation” of the controversial Class C substance.

It comes following calls from some locals, who say that legalisation of marijuana and promotion of its medicinal benefits could be just what the island needs to stimulate its stagnating economy. Some agricultors have even demanded “secure property on which to cultivate and process crops” under licence.

While the plan is not for legislation for the entire decriminalisation of the substance, the 10 States Members want to discuss how the island could potentially take advantage of decriminalising cannabis in the future. This could be done in two ways: either binning penalties for the possession and dealing of the substance or making Alderney the international capital of medicinal cannabis.

The item is scheduled to be the fifth on the meeting's agenda tonight, which is also due to include the final steps for legalising same sex marriage.

Pictured: Alderney's 10 politicians will discuss the idea this evening.

The Chairman of the Policy and Finance Committee, James Dent, has said that it was decided at the States of Alderney's February meeting they should debate this topic, as it was felt there might be cause for revising the penalties and criminality, and that discussion was needed around what commercial opportunities there could be. 

"Many people now believe that the criminalisation of drug use is not effective in preventing addiction and that it is better to move to treating drug addiction as a health issue," he said.

"Elsewhere in the World, many jurisdictions have now fully or partially legalised possession for personal use and a number of jurisdictions permit cultivation for personal or medicinal use. Use for medicinal purposes is for example now legal in 29 of the 50 US States, in Canada, the Czech Republic and Israel." 

Mr Dent addressed the potential restrictions legality of the drug could allow, and also the matter of cultivation: "The growing and processing of such plants on Alderney and under licence has been suggested."

Pictured: The proposals hit the national newspapers.

While this meeting's aim is to allow the States members of Alderney to express their views on the matter, it is hoped that this might stimulate a wider public debate on all these matters, "particularly of the economic potential from a liberalisation of some aspects of the current legal framework.”

While it’s still early days for the idea, it has already gained national attention, with the Sunday Times stating that it was “the first step on the road to becoming Britain’s offshore Amsterdam.” The Daily Mail, meanwhile, branded the island a potential “Amsterdam-on-sea.”

The news comes just weeks after Jersey Hemp - a new company selling products cultivated from a non-psychoactive strain of the cannabis plant - officially launched. Read their interview with Connect Magazine here.