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An industry to take over from the Jersey Royal?
Nicholas Morland told the Jersey Farming Conference that the Island is on the brink of a massive global opportunity. By Caroline Spencer
In 2019, at the Cannabis Europa Conference in Toronto, Senator Lyndon Farnham stated his intention for Jersey to be at the forefront of a well-regulated cannabis industry, which he described as ‘the biggest wellbeing and healthcare opportunity in a generation’.
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Just over two years later, two businesses in Jersey, Northern Leaf and Cicada, hold commercial medical cannabis licences, which allow the cultivation and manufacturing of high-THC medical cannabis for export. THC is the psychoactive compound responsible for the high produced by cannabis.
“It will be a
Representatives from those businesses sit on the Cannabis Services Advisory Board, whose chairman is Nicholas Morland. Mr Morland is also chief executive officer of Tenacious Labs, a CBD (Cannabidiol) group that has offices in London and Denver.
Tenacious Labs is looking to move its international head office to Jersey, thanks to the moves that the Government of Jersey has already made to enable investment in cannabisgrowing companies.
Meeting monthly with businesses, lawmakers and interested parties, the Advisory Board works with the Government of Jersey on business development and regulation issues in this fledgling industry.
Mr Morland, who addressed the Jersey Farming Conference last November, says that Jersey has a massive global opportunity within its grasp, but it needs to make sure it is ahead of its competitors.
‘This is an industry that is way past the point of whether it’s happening or not,’ he said. ‘And there’s lots of stuff that needs to be got right in order to make it happen. Jersey is at the front of the pack for dealing with the mechanics of doing it properly.
‘One of the main things that is now needed is a government department to oversee it, with its own dedicated budget, structure and planning process.
‘The cannabis industry could be a replacement for the Jersey Royal,’ he said. ‘It will be a massive industry, long term, and if Jersey gets it right, not only will it bring investment, it can use empty greenhouses and it will create additional jobs.’
He said that CBD is unusual in that the consumers are highly sophisticated and have a very good idea of what they want. It is already accepted that CBD in creams, lotions and oils offer localised pain relief and can help fight inflammation, itching and scarring.
Jersey, he said, has the chance to set some benchmarks, such as having a definitive seedbank, or establishing rules for the use of a Jersey kitemark, showing that cannabis can’t be labelled ‘Jersey’ without going through a strict process.
‘My concern is that the clock is ticking,’ Mr Morland said. ‘New York is moving up in this industry very fast, even though it was late coming to the table. ‘If you leave it until New York comes out, which will be the middle of this year, you’ll get lost in the noise.
‘Jersey can get the competitive advantage so long as it occupies the space now. If you can get in there, Jersey will be one of the two or three places in the world as a centre of expertise. Own that premium space and you’ve got a long-term Jersey Royal replacement.’ That premium space is crucial, he says. ‘Cannabis should be to Jersey what Scotch whisky is to Scotland. It should have visitor centres, which will provide more jobs. Scotch whisky is a huge ambassador for Scotland.’
At the Jersey Farming Conference, Mr Morland concluded: ‘Jersey has a serious competitor advantage right now … if we make substantive steps in order to own this space before May, which means legislation, regulation and ultimately taxation.
‘It will happen with or without you. I can’t see anywhere else that makes more sense than here and now. The actual practical steps required are not trivial, but I don’t have any doubt whatsoever that it can be done.
“It’s a massive
‘It’s a massive opportunity. I can see this as being as big - there’ll be lots of crossover - as the financial services sector. It’ll be a bit like not signing The Beatles if we don’t do it.’
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