Despite being a leading figure in pushing for the cannabis industry locally, Deputy Leadbeater assured ‘in all of my promotion of this industry that I am acting not as a member of the Committee for Home Affairs, or on behalf of the States of Guernsey’.
He will be a director of The House of Green, which was established in 2018 as a cannabis cultivation co-operative intending to produce locally and export for medicinal use.
The company is headed in Guernsey by chief executive Paul Smith and Deputy Leadbeater is expected to join the board of directors imminently.
Deputy Leadbeater said that when Health & Social Care contacted Home Affairs regarding the new licensing regime he removed himself from deliberations, took no vote and saw only redacted minutes with nothing relating to the agenda he is involved with.
He added that as soon as he knew he was becoming a director of The House of Green he made his colleagues aware at the next Development & Planning Authority meeting, another committee on which he sits.
He said he told the committee that a planning application would be submitted by the business and ‘that as I was to be on the board, I would remove myself from any involvement with any planning application that may be received from this company at any time’.
Deputy Leadbeater assured the public that his main aim, and of all those at The House of Green, ‘has always been, and always will be, to benefit Guernsey by putting us on the map as a centre of excellence in this industry, diversifying our economy, creating jobs and re-energising our dying horticultural industry’.
He initially refused to take a director’s post at the company about six to nine months ago because he was concerned he would be conflicted if the opportunity arose to assist politically in the establishment of a medicinal cannabis industry on the island.
His involvement and subsequent directorship with The House of Green, according to Deputy Leadbeater, has never encroached upon his political role and he has actively ensured this continues to be the case.
Deputy Leadbeater explained his reasoning for accepting the directorship when offered it again a few months ago. ‘It was spelled out to me that I would have full support in regenerating redundant vineries, creating jobs and breathing new life into our nearly-extinct growing industry.
‘After thoroughly checking that I wasn’t conflicted, I gladly accepted the job.’
He said that ‘all involved with this project have been working flat-out for a very long time to get it to where it is now – and nobody has been paid a single penny.’
A planning application has been submitted for the business at Bellefleur Nursery.
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