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A politician is pushing to change part of the island’s "archaic" drugs law which categorises some cannabis products at the same level as heroin and crack cocaine.
Deputy Inna Gardiner is seeking to remove what she calls the "archaic distinction" in Jersey law that treats herbal cannabis and resin differently from concentrated cannabinol products like THC oil derived from the plant.
Currently under Jersey's Misuse of Drugs Law, dried cannabis flower and resin are listed as Class B controlled substances.
But cannabis extracts containing cannabinols like THC are classified as Class A drugs – the same category as heroin and crack cocaine.
Pictured: Deputy Inna Gardiner is calling for all cannabis products to be classified as Class B drugs.
Deputy Gardiner argues there is "no reasonable justification" for this approach, and says that cannabinol and derivatives should match the legal status of the plant form.
This change would align Jersey’s laws with those of the UK, where all cannabis products are classified as Class B.
In a report accompanying her proposal, she expained: "As we start to move away from imposing criminal records on those found in possession of personal amounts of cannabis and resin, the difference between the penalties for these drugs and possession of cannabinols becomes more apparent."
Deputy Gardiner's amendment follows Deputy Tom Coles' recent proposition to fully decriminalise adult personal possession and recreational use of cannabis.
The Reform Jersey politician argued that such a move would “protect islanders” and align Government policy with its strategy of "harm reduction."
Deputy Gardiner's amendment adds a paragraph to the initial proposition, calling on the Health Minister to reclassify cannabinol extracts from Class A to Class B.
Pictured: Currently, islanders can only legally use cannabis or THC oils if it is obtained through a medical prescription.
This follows a law change in February that gave Centeniers power to issue fines for small amounts of Class B and C drugs at Parish Halls – but a zero-tolerance approach was maintained for Class A substances, including cannabis oils.
Deputy Gardiner argued that if an "acceptable" personal possession limit for cannabinol products could be set, it would allow them to also be dealt with at the Parish level rather than resulting in criminal charges.
"There can be no reasonable justification for treating cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives in the same manner as heroin or crack cocaine as is currently the case," she said.
Islanders can contact the Alcohol and Drugs Service on 445000 for advice and support on cannabis use.
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