Cannabis regulation among island illegal drugs review suggestions

The review will be used to inform the island's drugs policy in the future

The regulation of cannabis is among suggestions in a review on reducing the harms of illegal drugs on the Isle of Man.

The Public Health Institute at Liverpool John Moore's University report outlines a range of approaches.

But the government-commissioned study, due to be discussed in Tynwald next month, made no firm recommendations.

Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said each option focused on minimising "the overall societal harms" of drugs.

A 2020 Tynwald resolution found the island's approach to the issue should be partly informed by a review of island data and experiences.

The report, which heard from focus groups, charities and users of drug services, suggested the reduction in the use of criminal sanctions and deferred prosecution.

The use of alternative measures at the point of arrest for possession cases, such as referrals to educational, therapeutic support services was also put forward in the review.

Detail on the resources and considerations needed have been included for each approach.

Non-punitive measures

Ms Poole-Wilson said the approaches would tackle drug use "through community support, non-punitive measures, and focussing police resource on the more serious offences of organised crime and supply".

The findings and the discussion in Tynwald would help the Department of Home Affairs to work with other areas of government and partners from a range of organisations to develop policy options, which would be brought before Tynwald in 2024, she added.

The steering group for the review, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, said it supported an approach to reduce harm "across the dimensions of society and economy, as well as health".

But it said it would urge ministers to commission further work to understand the potential increased prevalence of psychosis resulting from any relaxation of cannabis policy.

It also called for any increased availability of drug treatment and non-punitive support options to be "properly funded".

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