DOES Jersey want to be known as ‘Weed Island’ – famed for its recreational cannabis use as well as its beaches, banks and trust companies – a doctor who prescribes the drug for medicinal purposes has asked.
Dr Kirstie Ross, an A&E doctor who also runs Carpathia Clinic, believes Jersey needs to get its rules around medicinal cannabis right before it contemplated relaxing its laws and policies around the recreational use of the drug.
Her cautionary words were in response to a proposition – recently lodged by Health Minister Tom Binet – which could start the Assembly on a journey to legalising personal quantities of cannabis for recreational use.
‘Future Approach to Personal Cannabis Use in Jersey’ – which the Council of Ministers pledged to draft in June 2024 after a backbench proposal to decriminalise cannabis was narrowly defeated – broadly sets out three options which States Members can vote on.
They are, in essence: decriminalise cannabis for recreational / personal use; legalise it; and/or introduce a trial of government-controlled production and sale of cannabis for recreational use.
However, it is not just a simple case of choosing A, B or C because, as the proposition makes clear, a combination of options can be adopted, as well as ‘no change’.
The current situation is that the recreational use of cannabis is illegal in Jersey, the drug sitting in ‘Class B’ when it comes to prosecuting. However, the drug can be prescribed for medicinal purposes legally. Cannabis cultivation is also permitted under licence.
When it comes to sanctions, the Attorney General has issued guidance to the police, which includes a direction that first-time offenders with personal quantities of cannabis (less than 15 grams) should receive a written caution rather than a formal prosecution.
Dr Ross, who serves on the ‘front line’ when it comes to Islanders being prescribed cannabis to deal with medical issues, said: “Simply put, the Health Minister’s proposition is not a good idea.
“Firstly, the government hasn’t got the medicinal cannabis side of it right yet so why start on recreational use? Get medicinal cannabis right first so you know what you are dealing with. Don’t bring more problems into the equation.”
Specifically, Dr Ross said that she would like to see regulations in place around medicinal cannabis. As the JEP reported recently, a large secondary market has developed in Jersey, in which ‘user-dealers’ who have been prescribed cannabis legally then sell on their surplus illegally.
She said: “The government is in possession of regulations which I have given them, which are accepted by the UK Government. Why are they not making any headway? They have not come back to me on that; there seems no appetite to push forward, even if it were initially to get people to sign up on a voluntary basis.
“Do we want to get a name as the ‘Weed Island’? Will our financial services industry want to be aligned with that sort of brand? I can’t see many people being comfortable with that.”
Dr Ross said that the medicinal cannabis industry had not been consulted on Health Minister Tom Binet’s proposition.
“No one has asked for my views on this and that makes me worried and suspicious,” she said. “I cannot think of an example where you would not consult the specialists on this; we already have a relationship with the government so I don’t understand.
“We were not consulted on the proposed drug-driving legislation either: of course, patients are going to come to us and ask questions about it, but we don’t know anything, and that’s ludicrous. And why is cannabis being singled out? What about codeine, amitriptyline, Gabapentin, Subutex or methadone?”
Looking deeper into Deputy Binet’s proposition, Dr Ross raised concerns about a proposal that it would not be an offence for Islanders to possess or cultivate a certain number of mature plants; two is used as an example.
She said: “It is totally illogical because, all of a sudden, you have random people growing random amounts of cannabis. Could a house with six people grow 12 plants?
“I really don’t know what the government is trying to achieve by this. I can see the point of decriminalising people with small amounts, but cannabis is either legal or it is not.
“My professional answer is that I don’t condone the use of recreational cannabis. However, when it is prescribed appropriately and responsibly – and I have had patients describing it as ‘life changing’ and ‘game changing’ – it is a really positive thing.”
However, not everyone agrees with Dr Ross. James Bedding became the world’s first quadriplegic drone pilot and also founded VaporizerHut, which sells non-psychoactive cannabis products.
He said: “From my personal point of view, this proposition is fantastic and a huge step forward. States Members have A, B and C before them and I would be keen if they chose all three.
“So many people in the Island consume cannabis, and have always consumed cannabis, and I don’t see it as a seriously harmful drug. Alcohol is far more serious and there are so many more health concerns around that.
“If you get caught with a personal amount of cannabis and it goes to court, that can go on your record, and cause you far more issues throughout your life, such as getting a job or being unable to travel to America. In this day and age, that is ridiculous.
“When you look at the amount of people that are accessing medical cannabis on prescription, it just doesn’t make any sense.”
He added: “There are so many places like Switzerland and the US that are decriminalising cannabis for personal use, and others doing trials, such as Switzerland, which now features in the proposition as Option C.”
Mr Bedding said that he felt that there were genuine benefits to using cannabis recreationally.
“A lot of people who might have had a stressful day at work will head to their local store on the way home to buy a bottle of wine or some beers. They use that to unwind and relax, which is fair enough.
“Many people would do the same with cannabis, and there are far fewer health concerns around that. To be clear, there are some associated health issues and it is not agreeable to everyone, but that is the same with alcohol.”
Addressing the concern that Jersey could become ‘Weed Island’, Mr Bedding said that Jersey could easily avoid that.
“I would not want to see Jersey go down the road of an Amsterdam. However, I have been to Barcelona several times, where they have ‘cannabis social clubs’. These are respectable places where you can buy a personal amount of cannabis; they host bands, hold comedy nights and have games – they are just like pubs without the alcohol.
“Like Barcelona, I don’t think Jersey should allow cannabis to be consumed in public, unless you have a prescription. You don’t want people walking through town smoking a joint because that is not fair. However, I think the social club idea – creating a controlled, pleasant environment – would work well in Jersey.
“I wouldn’t want us to be another Amsterdam”
He added: “I really hope that States Members do consider this proposal very carefully and wholeheartedly support it. In 2026, we should not be demonising people for consuming small amounts of cannabis.”
Although medicinal cannabis prescribers were not consultees in the drafting of the proposition, it does list some ‘‘key themes arising from stakeholder feedback.”
This includes a “need for caution by learning from medical cannabis”.
The proposition adds: “Many stakeholders referenced the need to learn from legislation changes that permitted the prescribing of medical cannabis in absence of any controls to ensure patient safety.
“Stakeholders felt that appropriate time should be taken to ensure any changes to cannabis policy result in safe, effective and practical outcomes, and that those changes should be considered against the backdrop of current high levels of medical cannabis prescribing in Jersey and the associated decline in illicit cannabis imports.”
One of the consultees was the Jersey Biopharmaceutical Council, an industry group representing companies active in Jersey’s developing biopharmaceutical sector.
While the JBC said it did not hold a position either in favour of or against the legalisation or decriminalisation of recreational cannabis, it added that it recognised “the need for a cautious and well-governed approach should Jersey decide to explore reform.”
It said: “The preservation of a clear boundary between medicinal and recreational cannabis regimes is important. Jersey’s medicinal cannabis system operates under a framework of pharmaceutical-grade compliance, licensing, and clinical governance.”
The council continued: “International case studies identify the potential risks of eroding these boundaries. For example, following the introduction of adult-use legislation in Canada, certain infrastructure, regulatory attention, and public investment shifted away from the medicinal sector.
“Patients experienced reduced access and a decline in the support structures around therapeutic use, while public perception became increasingly blurred between clinical treatment and general use.”
It added: “To prevent similar outcomes in Jersey, it is essential that medicinal cannabis remains distinct in terms of licensing, production, distribution, and communication. Policy clarity will safeguard the credibility and viability of the Island’s emerging pharmaceutical-grade sector and maintain public trust in its therapeutic applications.
“A poorly designed recreational model could be catastrophic for medicinal cannabis businesses. It is vital that this risk is fully understood and clearly articulated as part of the reform process.”
The JBC say that revenue reinvestment through taxing or licensing cannabis would be advantageous; however, it cautions that there could be risk to Jersey’s reputation, if the recreational industry is not well regulated.
“Uncontrolled or highly visible public consumption could damage Jersey’s international brand and provoke public backlash,” it warns.
The JBC also cautions against home cultivation. “While well-intentioned, this concept introduces a host of practical, regulatory, and reputational issues,” it adds. These include, it lists, confusion of legality, the creation of informal markets and increased enforcement burdens.
However, the JBC states: “With appropriate caution and structure, Jersey has the opportunity to become a global exemplar of how to explore recreational cannabis policy without undermining its therapeutic sector or broader reputation.
“Few jurisdictions are better placed to pilot responsible, public health-led approaches. The Island’s experience with regulated medicinal cannabis, combined with its responsive political system, creates an ideal environment for innovation – provided that reform is evidence-based, well-regulated, and aligned with Jersey’s long-term vision for economic and public wellbeing.”
