The Channel Islands are emerging as an unexpected testing ground for cannabis policy reform. Jersey and Guernsey , two Crown Dependencies that already allow access to medical cannabis , are now considering more significant changes to their cannabis regulations. Although their approaches differ, both islands question the relevance of maintaining criminal sanctions in a context where therapeutic use is already widespread.
In Jersey, the debate has been ongoing for several years . On February 3rd, the States Assembly is scheduled to vote on a proposal presented by Health Minister Tom Binet, which outlines three distinct options for modifying the legal treatment of cannabis use.
The first option would end prosecutions for individuals found in possession of small quantities for personal use. The second goes further, eliminating criminal offenses for possession and limited home cultivation under strict conditions. The third, the most ambitious, proposes a government-run pilot program authorizing the regulated sale of non-medical cannabis to registered island residents, with the aim of assessing public safety and regulatory outcomes.
For Mr. Binet, the issue is fundamentally a matter of public health rather than repression. "I think that if this is managed properly, it is probably better for it to be done openly, addressed and regulated appropriately," he said.
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