Friday 17 August 2018
The Office of the Committee for Health & Social Care (HSC) has been made aware that a trade body, the Cannabis Trades Association UK (CTA) has made statements claiming to be authorised by the States of Guernsey, incorrectly stating that the CTA are involved in the ongoing work being undertaken by the States of Guernsey in respect of the hemp and medicinal cannabis industry.
CTA is not working with the States Analyst, Roland Archer, with whom they have had emailed correspondence, no more. Two days after the CTA made their most recent statement, their representative met with HSC staff for the first time as a result of an introduction by a third party.
No industry lobby groups or sellers/manufacturers of CBD oil products were involved in the decision of HSC to amend the Misuse of Drugs (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1974, to enable the local importation and sale of certain CBD products. The claims by organisations such as CTA or CBD Brothers regarding their dealings with the States of Guernsey on legislative matters are incorrect and misleading.
HSC has been working with representatives of the Committee for Economic Development (ED) in respect of opportunities to develop a licensed and regulated hemp and medicinal cannabis industry, recognising the potential economic benefits this may offer for Guernsey. As part of this work, discussions have taken place with businesses looking to cultivate the cannabis plant in Guernsey for the production of hemp or CBD products. However, these discussions have focused on the business opportunities under the current legal framework.
Guy Coxall of the CTA has recently gone on record to say he will be working with the States of Guernsey on policy developments and a new "Cannabis Products Directive". This is not the case, and Guernsey will continue to liaise with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the UK Home Office on the status of this directive and other developments in the industry.
