Guernsey puts cannabis possession and supply under licence

From 7 March 1931, possessing or supplying cannabis in the Bailiwick of Guernsey required a licence or other legal authority under a new drug law. Doctors, chemists and veterinary surgeons could handle it for their professional work, while ordinary possession without authority was prohibited. Cannabis entered a system of controlled imports, authorised suppliers and compulsory records.^[1]

One law covered the Bailiwick

The proposal sought to bring local drug legislation closer to English law and place the Bailiwick’s islands under one framework. Guernsey’s States approved it in October 1930, followed by Alderney’s States in December. Royal approval followed in February 1931; the law expressly began when it was registered in Guernsey’s records on 7 March.^[1]

It replaced drug laws registered in 1924 and 1927. The new text dealt with Indian hemp alongside raw opium and coca leaves, and defined hemp to include dried flowering or fruiting tops, separated resin and preparations based on that resin.^[1]

Possession needed authority

The possession rule covered attempting to obtain cannabis as well as actually holding it. Authority could come from an import or supply licence, another possession licence or the permissions written into the law. Supply to someone lacking the required authority was also prohibited.^[1]

Imports followed a restricted route. Cannabis could reach Guernsey from Great Britain under the prescribed formalities, and reach the other Bailiwick islands through Guernsey. Exports were restricted to movements from Guernsey to the other islands under those formalities.^[1]

Suppliers had to account for their stock

People supplying cannabis had to keep separate registers recording purchases and dealings. Entries normally had to be made on the day of receipt or supply, with the following day allowed when same-day recording was impracticable. Records had to remain available for inspection and be preserved for at least two years after the last entry.^[1]

Qualified medical practitioners, chemists and veterinary surgeons received authority to possess and supply cannabis as necessary for their work. That permission carried the record-keeping duties. Authorities could withdraw a convicted professional’s licence or authority, subject to an appeal.^[1]

Later laws retained control

The replacement law that began in March 1967 expressly prohibited unlicensed cannabis cultivation and made occupiers or managers liable over premises used for cannabis smoking or dealing. It repealed the 1931 law and its 1932 amendment.^[2][3]

The Guernsey profile follows the later rules and the eventual return of a usable route to prescribed cannabis.