States of Jersey Police Policies, Training and Guidance Relating to Medicinal Cannabis

​​​​​Request 859812745

In light of the recent arrests of medicinal cannabis patients in Jersey, please could you provide the following information:

A) Does the States of Jersey Police have any policy in place around educating officers and employees around the legality of medicinal cannabis?

i) If so, please can you provide details?

B) Does the police force have any guidelines in place for instances when someone is stopped carrying what they describe to be medicinal cannabis and/or associated accoutrements?

i) If so, please can you provide details?

C) Does the States of Jersey Police recognise and adhere to the Medicinal Cannabis and the Police – Guidance for Officers and Staff prepared by the Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers adopted by police forces in England and Wales earlier this year?

i) If not, why not?

D) Are officers aware of what documents/evidence are required to identify a legal medicinal cannabis patient?

Response

A) The States of Jersey Police officers receive training on the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978, including content relating to medicinal cannabis. Training materials currently used within officer development programmes contain specific learning objectives relating to the medicinal use of cannabis and provide guidance on how officers can establish whether cannabis may be lawfully possessed. Misuse of Drugs learning includes training material stating that officers should understand the medicinal use of cannabis and advises that individuals should be able to present evidence of a prescription and identify the prescribing clinician.

B) The States of Jersey Police Stop Search Policy states that medicinal cannabis remains a controlled drug and that officers may, in appropriate circumstances, search and seize evidence where proof of lawful possession cannot be produced. The policy also notes that possession may still constitute an offence where the cannabis was not prescribed to the person in possession.

C) The Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers document is guidance developed for police forces operating under the legal framework of England and Wales. Jersey operates under separate legislation, including the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 and associated local procedures, therefore we adhere to local guidance in accordance with that legal framework.

D) The States of Jersey Police training materials provide guidance to officers regarding indicators of lawful possession of medicinal cannabis.

The guidance advises that a person should be able to:

• Present evidence of a prescription.

• Identify the prescribing doctor and clinic/surgery.

• Produce the cannabis in packaging or a container bearing the patient's details.

• Provide proof that the cannabis has been lawfully prescribed.​