While there are some merits to this approach, Deputy Gavin St Pier – who has argued in the past that cannabis use should be treated as a public health issue, not a matter for law enforcement – said he isn’t convinced decriminalisation “helps very much”. 

“Whilst it would stop some people being stigmatised with a criminal record and avoid the public expenditure costs of enforcement by the police, Border Agency and courts, it does not take the supply out of the hands of criminal gangs.   

“And it does nothing to ensure any kind of quality control of the content or strength of what is supplied on the streets, which creates real public health risks, particularly in relation to the risk of psychosis.” 

A change in the law has led to medicinal cannabis being widely prescribed to people in Guernsey, with more than 13,000 separate prescriptions being recorded over the past year. 

It’s also understood that a black market has now developed, with prescriptions being sold on to other users and cannabis being easier to obtain than ever.

"With medicinal cannabis now legal but subject to diversion, we have two illegal markets for recreational use,” continued Deputy St Pier. 

“The answer I'm afraid will not be popular with everyone but it's the legalisation of recreational cannabis for over 18's.  It needs to be licensed and taxed in the same way as alcohol and tobacco to ensure the safety of supply, supported by all the same public health messaging on packaging and so on.   

“Prohibition has failed and just leaves our community subject to exploitation by criminals supplying unregulated and unsafe products."