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20th May 2021 Dear Sir / Madam,
I am writing in response to a letter we received, which invited us to submit views on the regulations for the licence application, production, and export of medicinal cannabis in Jersey.
- Do you think that the energy and water usage requirements of the Cannabis crop could negatively impact traditionally farmed crops in Jersey?
We don't believe the energy and water usage requirements of Cannabis production would have a negative impact on traditionally farmed crops in Jersey.
- Do you have concerns about the impact of facilities required to maintain a high-quality Medicinal Cannabis plantation, such as the need for on-site monitoring and security, on traditional agriculture?
We don't have any concerns with regard to the facilities required.
- Do you have concern's that traditional agricultural businesses in Jersey may choose to transition their business operations to growing Medicinal Cannabis? What impact do you think this could have on traditional Jersey produce?
Growing traditional' Jersey produce on a commercial scale in Jersey is not sustainable.
This is because we have to compete against crops which are grown in Europe, where the growers are given much larger financial subsidies than Jersey growers. These financial subsidies allow the European growers to sell their produce at a lot lower price than we are able to.
We therefore feel that some traditional agricultural businesses in Jersey may look to transition to growing Medicinal Cannabis in order to simply stay in business.
If, in a few years' time, traditional Jersey produce is no longer being grown in Jersey we don't feel this would be as a consequence of the introduction of Cannabis growing to the island, but more to do with the lack of financial support for traditional produce growing from government, meaning that it is no longer financially possible to compete with European growers.
- Do you believe that Medicinal Cannabis growers will increase the vehicular traffic to and from plantation sites, on roads that are typically used by traditional farming businesses?
No, in fact we believe that vehicular traffic will be reduced.
In summary, if there was a reduction in the volume of locally grown produce over the next few years, we don't believe it would be directly due to the introduction of Cannabis growing to the island. It will be because the growing of produce is no longer financially viable, due to the lower level of government financial support compared to competitors.