Drug users "returning to cannabis"

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Customs officers say that the large volume of cannabis being seized this year indicates drug users are turning their backs on so-called legal highs, and "returning to cannabis" instead.

Speaking yesterday to a scrutiny panel hearing, Steve Le Marquand said there’s been a 56% increase in cannabis being seized this year, with the total going up to £2.5million worth, compared to £1.6million last year. By contrast, seizures of psycho-active drugs seem to be on the decline.

Also commenting on the figures at the hearing, Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull from the States of Jersey Police, said of the 253 drug offences they have dealt with this year, 158 were related to cannabis. Of those 150 were for possession, and usually involved small person amounts, and eight were for more serious ‘intent to supply’ – dealing.

Asked by Panel Chairman Deputy Sam Mezec why there’s been such an increase in cannabis, Detective Inspector Gull, said it could be because more is coming into the Island, but that he also believed it was down to successful policing and "getting better intelligence."