Time To Change The Law On Drugs?

[Boo Gay'n 395]

So what is happening on the cannabis front?

Alex Allinson, our only liberal from what I can see, had the following motion at the July Tynwald -

"That Tynwald notes the results of the recent consultation regarding medicinal cannabis; and is of the opinion that the Minister for Health and Social Care should lay regulations at or before the November 2019 sitting of Tynwald enabling the licensed cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use and export."

Perfectly reasonable and potentially fantastic for the economy.

The boy vampire then squashed it completely and put his amendment, which was accepted -

"That Tynwald notes the update provided by the Minister for Health and Social Care, and further notes: that regulations for the production and cultivation of industrial hemp are already active and extend to the Island; that the Department will seek to use the same application process and forms as that provided within the United Kingdom in relation to industrial hemp; that regulations and legislation for the cultivation and export of medicinal cannabis are active and extend to the Island; that the Department is currently assessing how an appropriate regulatory regime in relation to the cultivation and export of medicinal cannabis can be introduced, and the costs associated with such a regime; that the Minister for Health and Social Care will provide an update by way of a statement to the October 2019 sitting of Tynwald Court; and that the Department is currently consulting with relevant medical practitioners on the results of the consultation in relation to the way forward in relation to the prescribing of medicinal cannabis."

The tumbleweed must have rolled through the chamber.

I have been to so many business presentations where a government wallah (politician or civil servant) trots out the "we have a fleet of foot government which can get things done quickly".  That's just bollocks, isn't it?

Jersey or Guernsey will beat us in this area and get all the benefits.

[gettafa 4,758]

Let Jersey and Guernsey test the water.

There are too many stoners and pot heads hanging onto the periphery of the 'medicinal cannabis' thing, adding to the nervousness of politicians on this matter.

 

[Neil Down 5,505]

1 hour ago, gettafa said:

Let Jersey and Guernsey test the water.

There are too many stoners and pot heads hanging onto the periphery of the 'medicinal cannabis' thing, adding to the nervousness of politicians on this matter.

 

according to one set of figures, between 1993 and 2016 there were 391 cannabis related deaths. In England in 2016, there were 5,507 alcohol-specific deaths. So where's the biggest danger?

[Oh Mona 17]

1 hour ago, Boo Gay'n said:

So what is happening on the cannabis front?

Alex Allinson, our only liberal from what I can see, had the following motion at the July Tynwald -

"That Tynwald notes the results of the recent consultation regarding medicinal cannabis; and is of the opinion that the Minister for Health and Social Care should lay regulations at or before the November 2019 sitting of Tynwald enabling the licensed cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use and export."

Perfectly reasonable and potentially fantastic for the economy.

The boy vampire then squashed it completely and put his amendment, which was accepted -

"That Tynwald notes the update provided by the Minister for Health and Social Care, and further notes: that regulations for the production and cultivation of industrial hemp are already active and extend to the Island; that the Department will seek to use the same application process and forms as that provided within the United Kingdom in relation to industrial hemp; that regulations and legislation for the cultivation and export of medicinal cannabis are active and extend to the Island; that the Department is currently assessing how an appropriate regulatory regime in relation to the cultivation and export of medicinal cannabis can be introduced, and the costs associated with such a regime; that the Minister for Health and Social Care will provide an update by way of a statement to the October 2019 sitting of Tynwald Court; and that the Department is currently consulting with relevant medical practitioners on the results of the consultation in relation to the way forward in relation to the prescribing of medicinal cannabis."

The tumbleweed must have rolled through the chamber.

I have been to so many business presentations where a government wallah (politician or civil servant) trots out the "we have a fleet of foot government which can get things done quickly".  That's just bollocks, isn't it?

Jersey or Guernsey will beat us in this area and get all the benefits.

Sums matters up really, that politicians didn’t even know that regulations already applied to the IOM. I am not sure but I think these regulations were already in force when DHSC decided to do a consultation to see if they should bring in regulations?

Ashford has not got a handle on what is happening in his department especially since the top 3 civil servants left, and with a possible no deal brexit on the horizon it is worrying.

[WTF 3,924]

3 hours ago, Neil Down said:

according to one set of figures, between 1993 and 2016 there were 391 cannabis related deaths. In England in 2016, there were 5,507 alcohol-specific deaths. So where's the biggest danger?

does that mean that 391 stoner thieves fell off scaffolding and rooftops trying to break in ?

[Roger Mexico 5,091]

5 hours ago, Boo Gay'n said:

So what is happening on the cannabis front?

[...] I have been to so many business presentations where a government wallah (politician or civil servant) trots out the "we have a fleet of foot government which can get things done quickly".  That's just bollocks, isn't it?

Jersey or Guernsey will beat us in this area and get all the benefits.

If you look at the 'debate' that took place on the motion[1], it seems to have been more about chivying Ashford into doing something than anything else.  Allinson seemed quite happy to effectively accept the amendment (it passed on the nod) given that Ashford promised to progress the topic over the Summer and make a statement in October.

What had happened to cause Allinson's motion was of course the response to the Consultation on medical cannabis was published and showed overwhelming support for it:

Quote

We received 3,285 responses from Isle of Man residents and local organisations (99% from individuals).

Only 0.8% of respondents were NOT in favour of the introduction of medicinal cannabis

The majority of respondents that were in favour would like to see it offered as a quality assured product direct to the public for self-medication through accredited dispensaries (option D) or as a framework similar to the Netherlands (option C)

62% were in favour of restricting access to adults over the age of 18

95% would support the cultivation and manufacture of medicinal products in the Isle of Man subject to a suitable regulatory framework.

It's an enormous response - about the same as for abortion reform and even more in favour.

 

[1]  They haven't yet consolidated the Hansard for the July Tynwald yet - it went on over three days for the first time I can remember (they're always scheduled for that, but rarely even go into two) and maybe the files are too big or something.  So that link will become redundant and you'll have to look for item 42 [insert own Hitchhiker's joke here].

[dilligaf 7,851]

The consultation only received replies from less than 10% of the voting public or less that 5% of the population. Didn’t it ?

[the stinking enigma 8,701]

I quite like the fact that after each ban and cooling off period you return more irate and irrational than the time previous.

Edited August 14 by the stinking enigma

[Neil Down 5,505]

3 minutes ago, the stinking enigma said:

I quite like the fact that after each ban and cooling off period you return more irate and irrational than the time previous.

whereas you like to try and get a reaction.

[thesultanofsheight 7,508]

7 hours ago, gettafa said:

Let Jersey and Guernsey test the water.

There are too many stoners and pot heads hanging onto the periphery of the 'medicinal cannabis' thing, adding to the nervousness of politicians on this matter.

It’s about choice though. Even if there are hangers on cannabis is likely to do them less long term harm than alcohol abuse so it’s a matter of proportion. We plough so much into dealing with the effects of alcohol abuse anyway which kills a huge number of people a year and is entirely legal. A few pot heads hanging on to the medicinal cannabis debate isn’t going to make any difference at all IMHO. 

[Neil Down 5,505]

2 minutes ago, thesultanofsheight said:

It’s about choice though. Even if there are hangers on cannabis is likely to do them less long term harm than alcohol abuse so it’s a matter of proportion. We plough so much into dealing with the effects of alcohol abuse anyway which kills a huge number of people a year and is entirely legal. A few pot heads hanging on to the medicinal cannabis debate isn’t going to make any difference at all IMHO. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-brain/201603/marijuana-use-may-increase-violent-behavior

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/legal-marijuana-medical-use-crime-rate-plummets-us-study

two differing lines of thought on so called potheads and violent crime compared to alcohol related violence

https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/alcohol/crimes/

[Max Power 4,467]

Legalising cannabis would hopefully take it out of the hands of those who peddle heroin and the misery and death which they bring to people on the island! Perhaps when isolated, they could be systematically murdered and flushed back into the sewer where they belong!

[thesultanofsheight 7,508]

1 minute ago, Neil Down said:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-brain/201603/marijuana-use-may-increase-violent-behavior

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/legal-marijuana-medical-use-crime-rate-plummets-us-study

two differing lines of thought on so called potheads and violent crime compared to alcohol related violence

https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/alcohol/crimes/

You said yourself 5,507 people died in 2016 from alcohol related deaths alone. Alcohol is clearly a bigger societal problem than cannabis. End of.  

[Neil Down 5,505]

2 minutes ago, thesultanofsheight said:

You said yourself 5,507 people died in 2016 from alcohol related deaths alone. Alcohol is clearly a bigger societal problem than cannabis. End of.  

Yet still our elected bumpkins think it the devil in disguise.

[dilligaf 7,851]

22 minutes ago, the stinking enigma said:

I quite like the fact that after each ban and cooling off period you return more irate and irrational than the time previous.

I bet you missed hiving someone to pick on and call names then, did you ?

Make the most of it though, because my next one is final and unlike Arnie , “I won’t be back”

Edited August 14 by dilligaf