Recommendations RAG Ratings.
How are our Recommendations for Reform progressing?
Overview.
End Cannabis Prohibition Jersey presented 35 recommendations for cannabis reform to candidates ahead of the elections in June 2022.
As of the , 6 recommendations have been met, progress has been made with a further 5 recommendations, while little to no progress has been made with the remaining 24 recommendations.
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Patient Access.
Supporting patients and developing expertise.
10 recommendations: 9 Red / 1 Amber / 0 Green.
Recommendation #1
Address issues preventing GPs from prescribing medicinal cannabis.
The Health Department should engage with the Primary Care Body to address the issues preventing GPs from prescribing medicinal cannabis.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Windsor Medical Centre is the only local GP surgery that provides the option of medicinal cannabis treatment for their patients.
Recommendation #2
Conduct a Scrutiny review of medicinal cannabis.
The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel should undertake a review of the use of medicinal cannabis in Jersey in order to better understand the issues faced by patients and the medical profession, and advise Government accordingly.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Initial progress was made with discussions in June 2023 to initiate a Scrutiny review of cannabis prior to the Vote of No Confidence in January 2024, but this has since discontinued.
Recommendation #3
The Health Department should investigate the use of Individual Funding Requests or an alternative access scheme for providing access to medicinal cannabis for those in greatest need.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Notably, a patient in the UK was reimbursed by the NHS for their medicinal cannabis prescription via an Individual Funding Request in June 2024.
Recommendation #4
Provide professional training to healthcare professionals.
To facilitate the provision of medicinal cannabis by the Health Department, healthcare staff and GPs should be provided with professional training.
Status: Red – zero progress.
A meeting on medicinal cannabis was planned by members of a local cannabis company with healthcare staff in the autumn of 2022 but this was cancelled by the former Health Minister.
Recommendation #5
Establish a hospital cannabis clinic or equivalent.
In order to best accommodate the long-term provision of medicinal cannabis within the Health Department, we suggest the establishment of a hospital cannabis clinic or equivalent that would issue prescriptions free of charge via the Hospital Formulary upon the recommendation of consultants.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #6
Facilitate clinical trials and research and development.
A hospital cannabis clinic at the new Overdale Campus could facilitate clinical trials and research and development into medicinal cannabis.
Status: Red – zero progress.
The current review of the Medicines Law and subsequent changes to legislation may enable future clinical trials to be undertaken in Jersey.
Recommendation #7
Consider partnerships with industry to reduce costs and facilitate research and development.
The Health Department should consider partnerships with medicinal cannabis producers to reduce costs and facilitate R&D.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #8
Raise awareness of medicinal cannabis.
The Health Department should seek to raise awareness of medicinal cannabis in Jersey to ensure that there is sufficient understanding amongst the wider community.
Status: Amber – some progress made but more required.
Government published a webpage on Unlicensed Cannabis Based Medicinal Products (CBPMs) in October 2024.
However, little more has been done to raise awareness of medicinal cannabis, which has led to issues such as that of a medicinal cannabis patient being ejected from venues for vaping in November 2022.
Recommendation #9
Accommodate medicinal cannabis in healthcare settings.
Existing medicinal cannabis use should be accommodated into the treatment regimen of patients in healthcare settings, where appropriate.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Notably, the Care Quality Commission in the UK highlighted the issue of the administration of CBPMs in health and social care settings in their 2023 annual report.
Recommendation #10
Implement Police procedures for interacting with patients.
Government should work with the Jersey Police Authority to develop appropriate procedures for interacting with medicinal cannabis patients in order that their use of this medicine is no longer perceived to be criminal behaviour.
Status: Red – zero progress.
ECPJ raised this issue with the JPA in January 2024, who responded that the States of Jersey Police does not currently have any policies or specific training relating to medicinal cannabis.
Cannabis Industry.
Maximising the potential of cannabis cultivation.
7 recommendations: 5 Red / 1 Amber / 1 Green.
Recommendation #11
The next Government should ensure that the accepted recommendations of the EIA Scrutiny Panel report on the medicinal cannabis cultivation industry are implemented in order to provide improved management of this sector.
Status: Green – mostly implemented as specified.
Recommendation #12
In order to adequately inform the public and prospective applicants about Jersey's cannabis industry, the Government should be transparent and proactive in the communication of both past and future developments.
Status: Red – zero progress.
The provision of information by Government on cannabis remains mostly limited to Freedom of Information Requests, questions in the States Assembly, and Scrutiny.
Recommendation #13
Increase the limit of THC permitted in industrial hemp.
Consideration should be given to increasing the limit of THC permitted in industrial hemp in Jersey, which would significantly increase the number of varieties available for cultivation.
Status: Amber – under consideration.
Following the UK Government accepting the recommendation of the ACMD to increase the limit of THC permitted in industrial hemp to 0.3% in February 2025 and subsequent enquiries by ECPJ, the Government of Jersey is considering making equivalent changes to our legislation.
Recommendation #14
Update the legal definition of OTC cannabis end products.
Consideration should be given to updating the legal definition of OTC cannabis end products to permit a specified ratio of non-psychoactive to psychoactive cannabinoids.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #15
Promote the use of hemp products in the Island.
In order to help develop a sustainable economy, Jersey should actively promote the use of hemp alternatives to a wide range of consumer products in the Island.
Status: Red – zero progress.
An amendment was brought to the debate on the Proposed Budget 2025-2028 in November 2024 that would have inadvertently excluded cultivators of hemp from accessing the Agricultural Loans Fund.
ECPJ worked with Deputy Hilary Jeune on an amendment that would include hemp cultivators, which was adopted by the Assembly. The amendment as amended was, however, defeated and fell away.
Recommendation #16
Champion the regenerative cultivation of hemp.
The Government of Jersey should champion regenerative hemp cultivation to revitalise our soil and offset our carbon emissions.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #17
Investigate the use of hempcrete for carbon negative construction.
The use of hempcrete in the Island should be investigated for its potential as a carbon negative alternative to concrete in the construction trade.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Substance Use Strategy.
Addressing drug and alcohol consumption.
8 recommendations: 3 Red / 1 Amber / 4 Green.
Recommendation #18
Prioritise the new Drug and Alcohol Strategy.
The production and implementation of a progressive replacement substance use strategy focused on the principle of harm reduction should be a priority of the next Government.
Status: Green – strategy published.
The new substance use strategy, A Change of Direction: A Substance Use Strategy for Jersey 2023 to 2033, was published in July 2023.
Recommendation #19
Develop the new strategy according to international best practices and human rights.
Thorough research into international approaches to substance use and consumption patterns in the Island should be undertaken in the development of the new strategy, together with consultation with academics, NGOs and the public to ensure that best practices are implemented.
Status: Green – a progressive strategy.
The new strategy was "developed by the Public Health Directorate using a health and social approach to substance use".
Recommendation #20
Ensure adequate funding for the new substance use strategy.
Adequate resources should be provided in the Government Plan to support the new substance use strategy into the future.
Status: Green – funded via Public Health.
The Population Health Action Plan 2023 to 2027 stated that the substance use strategy will be fully funded, "assuming current temporary funding of the public health directorate is made permanent", the continued funding of which is confirmed in the Budget 2025 to 2028.
Recommendation #21
Transfer responsibility for substance use from Home Affairs to Health.
The wider issue of substance use should be transferred from the responsibility of Home Affairs to the remit of the Health Department in order to facilitate the coordinated delivery and implementation of the new strategy.
Status: Amber – some progress made but more required.
While Public Health now lead the substance use strategy, overall responsibliity appears to remain with Home Affairs as part of the wider context of the Building a Safer Community Framework.
Recommendation #22
Delegate oversight of substance use to the Assistant Minister for Mental Health.
Following the transfer of the remit for substance use to the Health Department, specific responsibility for the issue should be delegated to the Assistant Minister for Mental Health.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Since the Vote of No Confidence in January 2024, there has been no delegated Assistant Minister for Mental Health.
Recommendation #23
Consider recruitment of a new Director for the Alcohol and Drug Service.
Consideration should be given to the recruitment of a new Director for the Alcohol and Drug Service to advise Government and ensure proper oversight of substance use.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #24
Involve people with experience of substance use in MDAC deliberations.
Either the Bailiff should consider appointing someone with experience of substance use to the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council, or the Council should consider the creation of a sub-committee that includes representation from people with lived experience to contribute to deliberations on issues relating to substance use.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #25
Provide up to date information on substances to educate the public.
Up to date and thorough information about substance use should be provided by Government to both educate the public and also contribute to the PSHE curriculum as soon as possible.
Status: Green – updated information published.
In October 2024, new PSHE Guidance was published and the Government webpage on Drugs and their effects was updated (replacing content originally written in 2014).
Decriminalisation.
Personal cannabis use should not result in a criminal record.
7 recommendations: 5 Red / 1 Amber / 1 Green.
Recommendation #26
Prioritise the Crime Law and associated amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Law.
The Government should present this legislation to the States Assembly as soon as possible in the next term with particular consideration given to the associated Attorney General Directive.
Status: Green – legislation in force.
P.97/2023 Draft Crime (Public Order) (Jersey) Law 202- was adopted by the States Assembly in February 2024 and came into force in October the same year, along with a new Attorney General Directive.
Recommendation #27
Reclassify cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives as Class B drugs.
Consideration should be given to reclassifying cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives inline with other cannabis classification, changing it from Class A to Class B.
Status: Amber – in progress.
ECPJ worked with Deputy Inna Gardiner on an amendment to reclassify cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives, which was successfully adopted by the States Assembly in June 2024.
Updated legislation is expected in Q2/Q3 2025.
Recommendation #28
Reschedule cannabis as a Schedule 2 drug.
Consideration should be given to rescheduling cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2009 in recognition of the medicinal benefits of this plant.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #29
No longer criminalise the smoking of medicinal cannabis.
The respective article in the 2009 Misuse of Drugs (General Provisions) Order prohibiting the smoking of medicinal cannabis should be removed forthwith.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #30
Tolerate the personal cultivation of cannabis.
Cannabis cultivation for personal use should be considered a form of possession with regard to the proposed Misuse of Drugs Law amendment.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Notably, an amendment to decriminalise the personal cultivation of cannabis brought by Deputy Alex Curtis was adopted by the States Assembly in June 2024, but unfortunately fell away following the defeat of part a) of the main proposition.
Recommendation #31
Consideration should be given to a review of sentencing guidelines to better reflect the opinion of the people.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Recommendation #32
De-prioritise the policing of cannabis.
The policing of cannabis in the Island should be de-prioritised in conjunction with Centeniers taking no further action at Parish Hall Enquiry on the basis that such cases are not in the public interest.
Status: Red – zero progress.
ECPJ worked with Deputy Helen Miles on an amendment to part a) of P.31/2024 Cannabis: Decriminalisation of Personal Possession and Recreational Use that included reference to prosecution no longer being in the public interest, but unfortunately this was deemed inadmissable.
Towards Regulation.
Cannabis legalisation is inevitable.
3 recommendations: 2 Red / 1 Amber / 0 Green.
Recommendation #33
Liaise with the UK and Guernsey on implementing legalisation.
The next Government should proactively cooperate with the UK Home Office, the London Drugs Commission, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man Government on the issue of cannabis legalisation in order that an acceptable path forward can be established.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Notably, collaborative work with Guernsey "around the use and handling of controlled drugs including cannabis, working jointly with the UKHO" was reported in the Health and Community Services Advisory Board Papers from September 2024.
Recommendation #34
Plan for the future regulation of cannabis.
Government should investigate the legalisation of cannabis in Jersey in preparation for future reform, utilising research of international approaches, consultation and possibly a Citizen's Assembly to discern the model for reform best suited for the Island and it's people.
Status: Amber – in progress.
Following the adoption of part b) of P.31/2024 Cannabis: Decriminalisation of Personal Possession and Recreational Use by the States Assembly brought by Deputy Tom Coles in June 2024, Government is required to return to the Assembly by November 2025 with proposals for potential approaches to cannabis.
In response to an Oral Question in the States Assembly in April 2025, the Health Minister provided an update on the proposals, stating that they would cover "two principle areas: adjusting possession laws to reduce the criminalisation of cannabis for small-scale personal use; and exploring models for the regulated supply of non-medical cannabis."
Recommendation #35
Introduce legislation to legalise cannabis.
The incoming Government should consider introducing legislation to legalise cannabis before the end of the next term, with appropriate regulations in place to satisfy the needs and concerns of Islanders.
Status: Red – zero progress.
Depending on the outcome of the in-committee debate on cannabis in Q3 2025, Government may prepare legislation towards the end of the current term that could include aspects of legalisation. It would be for the next term of the Assembly to implement any such legislation.