During a Scrutiny panel hearing yesterday, Constable Len Norman said that decriminalisation of drugs was ‘one of the things we wanted to look at’ and that he had first discussed the issue with Health Minister Richard Renouf two years ago.
Panel member Deputy Louise Doublet asked the minister: ‘Will you be considering decriminalisation and regulation of drugs in Jersey as part of that harm-reduction strategy?’ He responded: ‘In simple terms the answer is yes.’
Speaking following the meeting, Mr Norman said it was ‘far too early to say’ what form the harm-reduction strategy would take and what approach to certain drugs might be adopted.
‘It is one of the things we want to consider during the review, during the consultation and through the strategy,’ he said.
Earlier in the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel hearing, Deputy Doublet asked how work was progressing on a drug-and-alcohol strategy.
Mr Norman said: ‘In the last week or two we have seen some real progress.’
He said ‘some resource has now been identified through Health’ and that the Public Health Department would take the lead, which would be supported by other government departments, including Home Affairs.
Justice and Home Affairs director-general Julian Blazeby said they had been ‘able to identify a gap that needs filling’, adding: ‘I think we all understand we need to have a longer-term drug and alcohol strategy that can help a variety of people in the Island. That focus on harm reduction is critical.’
‘It will be a public-health initiative,’ he added.
He also said they had engaged with the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council, and that he hoped the harm-reduction strategy would set policy for the next five years and beyond.
Asked about public consultation by Deputy Doublet, Mr Blazeby said consultation was ‘critical’, explaining: ‘Because there will be some significant elements to the strategy that we will of course want to see and consult on. It can be very strategic, to the decriminalisation of cannabis, for example, through to do we deal with people in a diversionary way as opposed to the criminal justice system?
‘That will require some significant consultation across a range of stakeholders and the public. That will be developed going forward.’
Jersey’s Youth Assembly narrowly rejected a proposition calling for the legalisation of all recreational drugs at the end of March.
Victoria College student Henry Devenport argued it was a ‘successful and pragmatic solution to a persistent problem’ and would provide a boost to the local economy. The proposal was defeated by 17 votes to 16, with five abstentions.
