Legal cannabis hits delays

Tuesday 12 December 2017

A move to make some cannabis products legal for medical use has been delayed – despite ministerial promises that it would be done by the end of the year.

Jersey’s Health Minister says they have run into problems finding clinically approved products and organisations prepared to deliver here, whilst also trying to re-categorise the currently illegal drug to be used as a medicine.

Earlier this year, Senator Andrew Green said he hoped to make it an option for people suffering pain or illness by the end of the year, following a recommendation made to him by the MDAC.

The first scientific review on the subject of cannabis-based medicinal products, ‘Cannabis: the Evidence for medical use’ known as the 'Barnes Report', was released last year by Professor Michael and Dr Jennifer Barnes. Among its conclusions, it said that: "...cannabis does have medicinal value and continuing placement of cannabis under Schedule 1 of the (UK) Misuse of Drugs Act, which thus states it is of no medicinal value, is inaccurate and misleading.”

St Brelade Deputy, Montfort Tadier, has long campaigned for the drug to be legalised. He’s teamed up with Reform Jersey Chairman, Deputy Sam Mézec, who questioned the Health Minister on why the change in legislation hasn’t been achieved yet.

Pictured: Deputy Montfort Tadier calling for support on his Twitter page.  

Deputy Mézec told Bailiwick Express, “…we were given a fairly categorical assurance earlier in the year that progress would have been made by the end of this year, to allow certain medicinal cannabis-based products to be prescribed to those who would benefit from it, yet nothing seems to have happened yet.”

“It’s pretty typical of Jersey politics that a Minister will make a promise and then completely lose control over the timetable, leaving Islanders let down.”

 He added: “...it’s an issue that my own views have evolved on because of the evidence from the Barnes Report and I think most islanders have probably become more open to this than they were a few years ago.”

Responding to Deputy Mézec’s question in the States, Senator Andrew Green said, “…I am very disappointed that I’m not in a position to yet action this.”

“It’s proving far more difficult than originally envisaged. Work on identifying specifically quality controlled products is taking longer than we thought. I remain committed to moving this forward as soon as I possibly can.”

“We have to have an approved supplier, and that approved supplier has to be prepared to deliver to Jersey, and the countries through which that must travel have to be in agreement to allow to travel through those countries…. We need to make sure we can access them and have a good supply of the right consistent quality."

The Minister wouldn’t comment on the timescale he expects to achieve this.

This delay is being felt by 75-year-old Anne Hill who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her twenties. She says the pain has got more severe as she’s got older and believes cannabis based medicine, “...might add a better quality of life, but I don’t know until I try it. I would appreciate the chance to use it.”

“It’s wrong people are denied the right (to try it) when other places like in Europe and Canada have made it available.”

“If you buy it illegally you have no idea what’s in that substance. I wouldn’t want to take something that hasn’t been through a proper trial and made by a company under strict laws.”

If the policy is changed, cannabis and cannabis resin would remain class B controlled drugs and cannabinol and its derivatives would remain class A controlled drugs. Unauthorised production, manufacture, importation, possession and supply would remain offences with the same penalties as currently. 

This means it would still be illegal for individuals to use cannabis for recreational purposes, to grow cannabis, or to import cannabis or cannabis-derived products themselves, or to self-medicate.