Dealing with cannabis possession is a ’complete waste of police and court time’, according to the Home Affairs Minister.

Bill Malarkey has announced that the department is looking at a new approach to help minor offenders rather than to prosecute them.

This includes cannabis possession.

The island’s chief constable, Gary Roberts, this week Tweeted: ’In the year to 31st March 2018 10% of all "recorded crime" in the Isle of Man was simple possession of cannabis.’

When asked how this affects the justice system, Mr Malarkey told the Manx Independent: ’It’s a complete waste of police and court time.

’That’s why we’re going towards the route that we are on, to try to avert more crimes from going to court and taking up police officers’ time.’

Mr Malarkey added: ’We’re working on a project at the moment with a new approach for all levels of crime, not just cannabis possession, which will look at why they have committed the crime so we can try to help them. We will also look at social security, housing and addiction to try to make sure these people offending get the right help.’

He explained that the project would include other agencies and that it follows the example of the Durham Constabulary, which does not prosecute anyone for drugs possession.

He continued: ’We are very happy with the way this project is going. We also have had the blessing of the chief constable in Durham.

’I will be able to explain more when we launch it officially in September.’

During the year 2016-17, figures of reported crime in the island showed 208 extra offences. However, out of that number 115 of these were drugs possession offences, majority of which were for possession of cannabis.

The Home Affairs Minister also said that he would support the Health Minister if the decision to ’bring in cannabis for medical purposes’ was approved.

However, he acknowledged that there could be challenges with the customs border in terms of bringing the drug into the country.

We would have to wait for the UK to decide,’ he said.

Health Minister David Ashford told the Manx Independent that the island was ’leaps and bounds ahead of the UK’ in terms of discussing the legalisation of medicinal cannabis.

The comment comes after former Conservative Party leader William Hague this week urged the UK Government to legalise cannabis following cases of children with severe epilepsy who were denied access to cannabis as a means of controlling their seizures.

Mr Ashford said: ’In the UK, it has been a sudden rush announcement, while we have been looking at this for some time.

’We received a paper two months ago about [legalising medicinal cannabis]. This will go before a drug and alcohol steering committee to see what we can do with it.’

He added: ’What’s important is that we have a full and proper debate. I know that Home Affairs is also keen to see what happens in future about this issue.’

Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson expressed his personal views about the issue saying that there needed to be ’fresh, evidence-based look’ at how the island deals with drugs.

He said: ’Under the current legislation which mirrors the UK, cannabis is classified as a Class B drug. The Isle of Man Constabulary works to enforce the law in a sensitive manner and try, where possible, to help those with drug problems access help.

’The Chief Constable has made previous statements about the way his available resources are being stretched at present, and while the police have been very successful in stopping drugs being smuggled onto the island there remains a real problem here as documented in the recent assessment from the public health department.

’The Isle of Man Government has set up a working party to examine the medicinal use of cannabis and in a week when Canada has become the first G7 country to legalise recreational use of cannabis, and prominent UK politicians such as William Hague and Iain Duncan-Smith have called for reform, I believe we need to have a fresh, evidence based look at the way we deal with drugs on the island.

’As a doctor I am convinced that cannabis has medicinal qualities, which can benefit people with a range of conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, neurological disorders and some psychological problems.

’I would like to see the island allow its controlled use and encourage clinical trials to prove its potential.

’It is my personal view that cannabis should be re-classified as a Class C drug and its use and the possession of small amounts decriminalised so that people on the island, especially young people, are able to access advice and do not end up with a criminal record which can stay with them for life and affect their future job prospects.

’Many of the dangers associated with cannabis use are due to the strength of supplies from criminal organisations dedicated to maximising profits.

’It is my view that we accept prohibition is not working, and move towards legalising cannabis on the island by creating a legal framework for the cultivation and supply of this product.

’This has been shown to effectively reduce harmful use and help prevent the criminalisation of a significant proportion of our residents,’ he added.

Canada this week legalised the use of cannabis as a recreational drug.