WE (still) need to talk about cannabis.

Two recent convictions in the Royal Court related to cannabis: in one, a man was jailed for 7½ years for posting the drug and MDMA to the Island and using the address of a local teenager.

In another, a 39-year-old man was given a substantial fine for possession of cannabis, among other charges, “only narrowly escaping jail”.

The distance between these two cases is vast: the first involves a seasoned drug smuggler who was using a vulnerable young person to import MDMA, a class A drug, as well as cannabis.

Given the circumstances, few would argue that a significant custodial sentence was inappropriate.

The second centres on a clearly troubled man who told the court he was “ashamed” and “embarrassed”, and whose lawyer stressed that he was determined to demonstrate that he could turn the corner. Mercifully, the court believed him.

The similarity between the cases is, of course, cannabis; and how they highlight the bizarre state of affairs in this island by which it is perfectly legal for one Islander to walk around with their pockets stuffed full of weed, while another runs the risk of jail.

At the moment, the only difference between cannabis users being dragged through the courts and saddled with a criminal record and those sitting at home right now with a perfectly legal vape in their hands seems to be means.

If you can afford to go to a clinic and get a prescription, you are not a criminal.

If you cannot and buy your cannabis on the street, you are.

That isn’t fair.

This situation was very nearly resolved earlier this year when the States Assembly almost voted to begin the process of legalising cannabis, with the proposition lost by a single vote. As a result, the current situation – by which the drug is both illegal and legal at the same time – remains.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that a staggering 6% of the Island’s population has a prescription for cannabis, with 23,639 prescriptions issued in 2022, and 16,714 in the first six months of 2023. That compares to under 0.5% of the working population in the UK.

We either think cannabis is a harmful drug that people should not use, or we don’t. If we do, then it’s time to admit that the medicinal cannabis situation is out of control. If we don’t, then it is time to stop criminalising dozens of people a year for possessing it.

Which is it? Editor: Andy Sibcy editorial@jerseyeveningpost.com