Guernsey Press

Pro-cannabis campaigners support both causes

SHOWING support for the anti-discrimination campaigners, as well as pushing their own agenda for cannabis legalisation, at the Royal Court protest yesterday were members of the Guernsey Drug Strategy Campaign.

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Members of the Guernsey Drug Strategy Campaign, including founder Lucia Pagliarone, left, put forward their case to deputies. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 28470220)

Founder Lucia Pagliarone said members were scattered around supporting both elements of the protest, which were ‘very much linked’.

Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq and Laurie Queripel plan to lay an amendment to the Justice Review report to relax laws on cannabis possession.

The campaign group used this news as an opportunity to speak to deputies, saying ‘do not discriminate against medicinal cannabis users’.

Deputy Marc Leadbeater, seconded by Deputy Charles Parkinson, wants Home Affairs to consult with relevant stakeholders and recommend the introduction of a statutory regime, similar to that in countries such as Canada, to enable the lawful and regulated production, distribution, sale and possession of quality-controlled cannabis for recreational purposes.

Policy & Resources has already warned deputies against diving into a detailed debate on these elements when it is meant to be only about first laying down a high-level strategy.

Several campaigners were holding signs saying cannabis should be allowed to treat PTSD and that those who use it should not be classed as criminals.

‘Let’s keep going, keep sharing, making noise but also doing it in a respectful and positive way,’ Ms Pagliarone said.