Island to have a bigger voice in UK cannabis regulations
THE local cannabis industry can expect to have a bigger voice in UK medical cannabis regulations following the appointment of a Guernsey resident to a UK national council.
James Smith has recently been appointed co-chairman of the medicinal cannabis sub-group for the UK’s Cannabis Industry Council. He believes his appointment is a big responsibility, and an opportunity for the Channel Islands.
‘I think my appointment to this position helps represent Channel Island interests in terms of patients and doctors in the industry,’ Mr Smith said.
‘They can voice their concerns, and I will make sure they’re heard.’
Mr Smith said he has an extensive background of working with governments to improve and write regulations around medical cannabis cultivation.
‘I have a track record for achieving things, and I hope I have the same success in this role as co-chair of the medicinal cannabis sub-group,’ he said.
‘We are looking forward to joining the industry experts, organisations, and businesses involved and will strive to be part of a collective, trusted voice for the sector as well as helping to drive real change for patients.
‘This is a big win for us – it puts both Guernsey and 4C Labs on the map and firmly on the frontline in the UK medical cannabis industry.’
Mr Smith is a Canadian national who moved to Guernsey last October. Following his appointment to the CIC sub-group, he said he will go back and forth between London and Guernsey to enable him to fulfil all of his obligations.
The CIC was founded to improve access to safe cannabis-based products across the UK and it is made up of more than 80 organisations working across different facets of the cannabis sector.
Mr Smith is co-founder and chief revenue officer for medical cannabis company 4C Labs. The company, originally based in Canada, made an application to cultivate cannabis plants with high THC content as soon as the Bailiwick signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Home Office at the end of July.
‘We want to create better access for patients to get them off opioids, sleeping pills and other chemical drugs,’ Mr Smith said.
‘Hopefully we’re going to build successful communication through my appointment to this sub-committee and Guernsey will benefit.’
Mr Smith has big hopes for the cannabis phyto-pharma industry in Guernsey.
‘While Guernsey’s medical cannabis sector is in its infancy, it has the potential to help transform the lives of patients both in the Channel Islands and the UK. An inability for cultivators to grow medical cannabis on the UK mainland, as well as supply chain issues from other legal jurisdictions means that the Channel Islands are uniquely positioned to help solve these challenges,’ he said.
The UK Home Office is supposed to look at the 4C Labs cultivation application in September. It has a site visit tentatively planned in October, contingent on the success of the initial application.
