In response to a question from Deputy Montfort Tadier, who has campaigned on the issue, about when cannabis-based products Bedrocan and Tilvol were likely to become available in the Island, Deputy Richard Renouf said the necessary enabling documentation was still being drafted.
‘The ministerial decision has been taken to reclassify these two products and the law-drafting instruction has been given,’ he said. ‘The documents are being worked on and I will be bringing forward the order to reclassify them as soon as I am able.’
He went on to add: ‘I can assure Members that we are ahead of the UK by having already decided to reclassify these products.’
However, Deputy Renouf continued, as the two products were not available in the UK – where prescribing medicinal cannabis is illegal – he was chasing up the necessary permission to be allowed to import Bedrocan and Tilvol into Jersey via the UK.
He said he was hopeful that talks taking place with UK Customs and Excise and government departments to resolve the importation issue would be successful, especially in the light of the recent UK government decision to relax its ban on cannabis oil to treat a young epilepsy sufferer.
