Jersey politicians reject landmark proposition to decriminalise cannabis by single vote

Jersey politicians have rejected proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use by a single vote.

The debate was called by Deputy Tom Coles of St Helier South who says the current rules have created a "two-tiered system, given that medicinal cannabis can now be legally prescribed".

Other countries such as Germany recently relaxed their recreational cannabis policy.

Deputy Coles' proposals would have decriminalised the personal possession and recreational use of cannabis "in principle" and paved the way for Jersey to become the first place in the British Isles to remove criminal penalties for people caught using the Class B drug.

He explains: "It was incredibly disappointing to get so close but I am glad it shows there has been a transition in the way people are thinking about how we deal with substance users and decriminalisation is the way forward.

"It was very close this time, I imagine if this vote was done 20 years ago, it would have been in stark contrast to what we saw today."

Decriminalising cannabis for personal use is not the same as legalisation.

It means that people found with small amounts for themselves would not be charged by the police. However, cannabis would still be illegal and places would not be allowed to sell it.

22 politicians voted in favour of the move while 23 voted against and one States Member abstained.

Former Health Minister, Deputy Karen Wilson, argued that agreeing to the idea would have meant "unleashing a harmful experiment on the mental and physical health of the people of Jersey".

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