Isle of Man 'overwhelmingly in favour' of medicinal cannabis facility following consultation

Plans have been submitted to grow and export medicinal cannabis from an indoor complex in the Isle of Man.

Peel NRE hopes to build a £100m science and innovation centre, which will include an indoor cultivation facilities and a new research campus near Cooil Road in Braddan.

They say the proposals for the 72-acre site would create around 250 jobs across a range of skills from botany and technology to security and exports.

An interpretation of what the science and innovation centre will look like in at Cooil Road in the Isle of Man. Credit: Peel NRE

Myles Kitcher, Managing Director of Peel NRE, part of Peel L&P, said: “This is a game-changing opportunity for the Isle of Man to get ahead in a new and exciting industry that will bring many benefits to the Island and its people and we also hope that it will encourage more renewable projects in the area."

Peel NRE opened an Island-wide consultation on its plans for the facility and estimates the complex will generate between £90-£180million for the Manx economy.

Mr Eves said around 85% of responses had been positive and people were 'overwhelmingly' in favour of the industry development in general.

The proposals follow a recent change in the legislation of cannabis production and exportation in the Island, allowing commercial operators to create medicinal cannabis products.

The Isle of Man parliament passed new regulations for a medicinal cannabis export sector in January 2021.

Meanwhile the Department of Health and Social is looking to partner with an on-Island pharmacy to provide an import and dispensing service for Cannabis Based Medicinal Products.

This would allow patients with private prescriptions to access cannabis products in the Isle of Man.

The scheme would feature a solar farm to power the site which would be the Island’s only grid-scale renewable project, and contribute to the Government’s climate change goals.

Dr Alex Allinson MHK, Minister for Treasury said: “The development of the Island’s medicinal cannabis sector is a key part of the Government’s ambitions to diversify the economy as well as creating a vibrant new sector to attract more investment and skills to the Isle of Man.

"We are looking to create a world-class infrastructure and continue to welcome interest in developing this sector further.”

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