Regulations to pave the way for a £3 million medicinal cannabis export industry could be put before Tynwald by December.

But new rules for use of cannabis in the island still seem a long way off.

A consultation with interested parties on the draft ’details, standards and regulations’, to support a framework for the export of cannabis-derived products was underway, Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly said.

’Our intention is to bring the necessary regulations to December’s sitting of Tynwald for approval,’ he told the House of Keys on Tuesday.

But he stressed that the domestic market for prescribing and potential recreational use of cannabis were ’completely separate subjects’ and under the remit of other government departments.

Responding to a question from Claire Christian (Douglas South), he said: ’Our objective is to facilitate through a world class regulatory structure, a new cannabinoid cultivation and processing industry for export, while safeguarding the island’s reputation, the health and safety of our community and our commitment to encourage sustainable economic activity in harmony with our natural resources.’

Mr Skelly said he hoped to hear from a range of on and off-island investors, farmers and businesses through the consultation, as well as ’relevant stakeholders that are involved in the standards applicable to controlled substances’.

He acknowledged that progress on bringing forward a regulatory framework had been slow, but this was due to the market being so highly regulated - ’for obvious reasons’ - and subject to United Nations conventions on what is allowed in terms of controlled substances.

The December target for new regulations, however, was subject to the outcome of the consultation.

’We need to make sure that the framework which sits under those regulations is fit for purpose,’ he said.

’There is a wide range of stakeholders to consider - internally across many government departments, from on-island landowners and farmers, as well as from off-island through potential investors and, of course, the UK Home Office.’

He said there was a ’solid opportunity’ to introduce a regime to fit in with international conventions, while capitalising on the island’s ’strong track record for high standards when it comes to regulations, service and transparency’.

But he warned: ’We must address it carefully and properly.’

Mrs Christian said the consultation did not look at changes to the domestic legality of prescription medicinal cannabis or the legality of non-medical use of cannabis in the island. She asked if there were plans to start a ’framework for domestic sale of cannabis’.

The local domestic market and recreational use of cannabis, Mr Skelly said, were ’different subjects altogether and therefore are responsible in other colleagues’ departments’.

Martyn Perkins (Garff), was unimpressed with the speed of reform.

’The progress seems to be a bit like a tortoise on a zimmer frame,’ he complained.

Announcing the consultation last week, a government spokesman said a cannabis export industry could create jobs and be worth £3 million a year.

’In recent years, a growing body of research has emerged related to potential health benefits of cannabis, leading to the development of new products to meet consumer demand for these uses,’ the spokesman said.

’Consumers and commercial cannabis operators are increasingly calling for clear guidance for the oversight of these products to ensure confidence in the supply chain, including safeguards that inform consumers of the ingredients, potency and legal distribution of cannabis-derived products.’

The consultation can be found here: https://consult.gov.im/economic-development/regulatory-framework-for-cannabis-derived-products/