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Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978: Amendment: Law drafting instructions - Cannabis Based Products

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A decision made 13 February 2018:

Decision Reference:   MD-HSS-2018-0004

Decision Summary Title :

Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 – Proposed Reclassification of Cannabis Based Products

Date of Decision Summary:

12th February 2018

Decision Summary Author:

 

Chief Pharmacist

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

 

Written Report

Title :

Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 – Proposed Reclassification of Cannabis Based Products

Date of Written Report:

12th February 2018

Written Report Author:

Chief Pharmacist

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject:

Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 – Proposed Reclassification of Cannabis Based Products

Decision(s):

The Minister endorsed the recommendations of the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council and accordingly determined that an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978, as amended, should be prepared that would reclassify specified cannabis based products in order that they might be used for medicinal purposes.

Reason(s) for Decision:

The Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council has recommended that Bedrocan; Bedrobinol; Bediol; Bedica; Bedrolite; and Tilray oral solutions and capsules be reclassified under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978

Resource Implications:

None

Action required:

The Law Draftsman to be requested to prepare the necessary amendment on the basis of a drafting brief to be provided by the Chief Pharmacist.

Signature:

 

 

Position:

Minister for Health and Social Services

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978: Amendment: Law drafting instructions - Cannabis Based Products

STATES OF JERSEY

 

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

 

Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978

 

Proposed Reclassification of Cannabis Based Products

 

  1. Issue

 

The Minister is requested to consider reclassifying certain specified cannabis based products under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978.

 

  1. Introduction

 

The Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council (MDAC) is established in accordance with Article 2 of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 and has a duty to advise the Minister on measures, which in its opinion, should be taken to prevent the misuse of drugs and/or to deal with the social problems connected with drug abuse.

 

  1. Background

 

The MDAC has given consideration to a proposal to reclassify certain cannabis based products in order that they can be used for medicinal purposes when prescribed by a doctor.

 

In considering whether or not to recommend reclassification of any cannabis based products the MDAC was mindful of one of the conclusions in the Barnes Report1 which stated that the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal indications should be in strictly controlled circumstances with a quality controlled product and a secure supply chain. The MDAC was of the opinion that any such product must be produced to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and should only be imported by the Hospital Pharmacy Department for supply against a prescription written by hospital consultant. Reclassification should therefore provide that appropriate controls can be implemented regarding the importation and prescription of these products.

 

While there are apparently numerous cannabis based products available via the internet very few are produced by manufacturers who comply with GMP standards. Compliance with GMP standards provides an assurance that the manufactured product will be a quality controlled product.

 

The MDAC considered a number of potential products and recommend the following products be reclassified.

 

  • Bedrocan; Bedrobinol; Bediol; Bedica; Bedrolite all produced by the Bedrocan company in Holland under licence from the Dutch Government Office for Medicinal Cannabis. Importation would be from Holland.

 

  • Tilray oral solutions and capsules containing various strengths and combinations of THC and CBD produced by the Canadian company Tilray.

 

It is the view of the MDAC that only these specific products be reclassified at the current time. They should remain as Class B controlled drugs but be rescheduled under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2009 to enable them to be prescribed for medicinal purposes.

 

  1. Recommendation

 

The Minister is requested to endorse the recommendations of the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council to reclassify the specific cannabis based products detailed above and to direct the Chief Pharmacist to prepare a brief for consideration by the Law Draftsman.

 

 

  1. Barnes, Michael P and Jennifer C Barnes. Cannabis: The Evidence for Medicinal Use. 2016
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