THE REVOCATION OF JERSEY HEMP’S CULTIVATION, EXTRACTION AND EXPORT LICENCES BY THE GOVERNMENT OF JERSEY (AT THE BEHEST OF THE UK GOVERNMENT) IS UNFORTUNATE FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS, BUT IT IS NO SURPRISE – IT WAS INEVITABLE
This week we read with sadness of the decision of the Jersey Government to Jersey Hemp’s licences. As the founders of a SME we understand the risks that entrepreneurs take and the impact when the course charted for the business does not follow the path that one hoped, with the consequential impact on thee founders and all staff involved – most obviously those who suffer redundancy and financial loss because of it.
This Paper is not aimed at Jersey Hemp, its founders or its staff, all of whom we have profound sympathy for, rather it is aimed at those who purport to be their “expert legal advisers” (to whom they no doubt pay a King’s Ransom) and those others to whom they pay subscriptions for advice and alleged “access” (whatever that means when used by the spin-doctors who’s currency it is proclaimed to be) – no doubt for an equal King’s Ransom.
We say to each of those: you should hang your heads in shame, because it is you who bare the responsibility of this failed business and the misleading of the founders, yet it appears as though you continue to mislead them, no doubt extorting more sheckles from them as you do so. If it is the case that you gave professional, accurate and credible advice to this company through its life and the Founders chose to ignore you and accept the commercial risk that the UK Government would do what it had no option other than to do, then we will publicly resile from the criticisms of you within the document.
Unconnected to the recent news from Jersey Hemp. we have already offered to present a £1,000 donation to the medical cannabis charity of choice from any so-called “Expert Cannabis Lawyer” or “Partner” who is able to mount a credible response and defeat the Opinion that we published for all to read in February 2020 (you can check the publication date on our website here, and the full text appears at Appendix 1 of this document).
This is potentially particularly important to Jersey Hemp because we have read statements from the company, no doubt fueled by the sound of those to whom they have so ruinously listened thus far, that they will be taking action against the Governments of both the UK and Jersey.
We implore the Founders of Jersey Hemp that before they listen to such advice and commence this action, to ensure the following:
- that their lawyer (the individual Partner and the firm as a whole) agree to work on a “no win, no fee” basis – so that Jersey Hemp will not have to pay them fees for engendering an action which will only benefit the lawyers otherwise;
- that their lawyer (the individual Partner and the firm as a whole) provide them with written indemnities to underwrite all costs associated with their forthcoming loss of the action which they are being invited – so that it is the lawyers and not Jersey Hemp who will have to pay the separate costs of both the Governments of the UK and Jersey for successfully defending (the hopeless case that should never be/have been brought); and,
- that their Trade Body (select an acronym and there are plenty to choose from: CTA, ACI, CIC, APPG…) provide them with written indemnities to join the underwriting of all costs associated with their forthcoming loss of the action which they are being invited – so that the Trade Body may share in the motivation to focus advice along with their lawyer (Partner and firm).
