'Drug-driving law will make prosecution easier'

Jersey's infrastructure minister says proposed changes to Jersey's road traffic law will make it easier to prosecute those who drive under the influence of drugs.

Currently those caught can go to prison for up to a year of be given a maximum fine of £10,000.

Constable Andy Jehan said his proposed changes would make prosecution easier by introducing legal limits and roadside testing: "There is a problem not just in Jersey but nationally with the amount of people driving under the influence of drugs."

However, a cannabis reform group said the measures would unfairly penalise medicinal cannabis users.

Last July, Jersey's chief of police told the Children, Education and Home Affairs scrutiny panel he was more concerned about drug driving than drink-driving.

Chief of police Robin Smith said: "My answer may surprise you in that I am more concerned about that than I am about the alcohol because it is harder to detect."

Jehan said: "So what this is designed to do is to bring in a set limit and allow for roadside testing and if someone tests positive on the roadside they will be taken to the police station where formal tests will be taken and if they test over the limit they will be prosecuted."

In the proposed law changes, which are due to be debated by the States Assembly next month, legal limits would only be introduced for cannabis.

The minister said: "There will be the ability for future assemblies and ministers to bring in other drugs but we want to make a start and THC is the biggest issue that the police currently have and that's why we are targeting this area."

Simon Harrison, from End Cannabis Prohibition Jersey, said the proposed law changes would unfairly punish those who rely on cannabis for medical reasons.

He said: "There isn't a medical defence in the law for those taking medicinal cannabis and who may inadvertently go above limit even though they are following prescription guidance and this is accounted for in UK and Guernsey legislation but hasn't been incorporated in Jersey legislation."

The proposed law changes from the infrastructure minister would introduce a 5µg/L (micrograms per litre) cannabis limit for drivers.

Jehan said the impact on medicinal cannabis users had been taken into consideration: "We have gone for a limit of five compared to the UK limit of two because we are aware of the amount of people who take medicinal cannabis for very good reason."

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