Cannabis update from HSC

Friday 27 July 2018

Guernsey's Health and Social Care Committee said it is already ahead of the UK when it comes to considering medicinal uses of cannabis.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby has issued a statement after the UK said it is considering relaxing the rules regarding the circumstances in which cannabis can be given to patients.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby said HSC "has taken some significant steps during the last year to respond to growing evidence that cannabis-based medicinal products can add value to treating some conditions."

She said the Committee "would continue to review latest guidance from clinicians and would not rule out making further changes to patients’ potential access to cannabis-based medicines."

Deputy Soulsby and P&R President Deputy Gavin St Pier had already said they wanted to have a States debate on the future of medicinal cannabis next year - along with a wider discussion on the legality of the drug and the current punishments handed down by the island's courts for those found in possession of or using cannabis.

In a report published by Express in June both politicians agreed the matter was at the forefront of many people's minds as it had been put on the table both locally and internationally. 

Now the UK has made similar moves Deputy Soulsby has said Guernsey was already ahead of the game. Her full statement is below: