Request to pull cannabis working group debate

A debate on whether Guernsey should explore legalising cannabis may be pulled after the politician leading the proposal said allegations had created a "risk" of undermining discussions.

Home Affairs Committee President Marc Leadbeater confirmed he would ask the States to withdraw his requête, which called for a cross‑committee working group to examine how a regulated cannabis regime could operate.

The proposal would not have legalised the drug but would have restarted work.

Leadbeater told States members he had faced a "sustained and escalating campaign of unfounded allegations" questioning his motives for bringing the requête. However, he added he intended to bring it back at a later date.

The row intensified two weeks ago after a Guernsey Press story revealed that Deputy Rob Curgenven had lodged a code of conduct complaint about Leadbeater.

The complaint alleged he misled people about connections between him, his family, and a local cannabis cultivation company. Leadbeater has denied wrongdoing.

Allies of Leadbeater have since submitted their own complaint against Curgenven, deepening tensions between the two long‑standing political rivals.

Leadbeater said that, as the volume of claims grew, there was a "real risk" that the cannabis debate would be overshadowed.

He said he would ask the States on Wednesday to withdraw the requête.

He described the decision to withdraw the requête as "deeply frustrating" and said progress on the policy area had been "impeded".

Guernsey legalised the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in 2021 and thousands of licences have since been issued. Cannabis remains a Class B drug, and previous efforts to examine full legalisation stalled before reaching the States.

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