In many ways it feels like the United Kingdom's tentative steps towards change in terms of the legislation and regulation surrounding cannabis have the potential to leave them falling behind other parts of the world.

While there have certainly been some signs of progress within the government, there is also a sense of resistance or restraint which limits many companies from pressing ahead with innovative ways of capitalizing on cannabis' potential. Ironically, it is clear that those at the top acknowledge the reality that it is likely to become an ever-more important part of the British economy in time but only a select few companies have been given the green light to cultivate cannabis for the purpose of producing medicinal strains and a small range of medical products. As other parts of the world seem to be investing heavily into this growing industry, the UK needs to recognize that it has to be more daring and forward-thinking if it doesn't want to be left playing catch-up.

Recently we learned about an exciting new project which has the potential to set a new standard for the slowly developing industry. Peel NRE, a leading specialist organization in the field of regeneration projects and clean energy has outlined its plans for a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in the Isle of Man. This 'Science Innovation and Research Centre' (SIRC) will deliver a cutting-edge medicinal cannabis cultivation facility which has the potential to pave the way for Britain's future in the global cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical industry whilst also contributing to the goal of achieving net zero carbon by 2050. Furthermore, it is the intention of Peel NRE to establish the first grid-scale renewable project on the Isle of Man as the whole site will be powered by a significant solar farm which will be built alongside the research and cultivation facilities.

Some of the main aims of this proposed site include setting a gold standard in terms of research and developing a pool of talent that can benefit the industry for years to come. Reports indicate that an investment of £150m has already been secured by their parent company with a proposed site covering 72 acres. They certainly have high aspirations for this project and while it will certainly be a huge boost to the local economy that will provide over 200 jobs, there is a clear focus on attracting the best home-grown talent out there to ensure that the vision becomes reality.

Peel NRE are a part of the Peel L&P group which means that they share a similar focus on making a positive impact on people's lives in combination with delivering ambitious projects through regeneration and recycling. By working closely with various different groups, they aim to provide innovative solutions to the low carbon and circular economy sectors in the form of real estate developments, new systems of infrastructure and operational solutions. Previously they have delivered projects linked to renewable energy in the form of onshore wind farms and the Protos Cheshire Energy and Resource Hub. With this level of experience and expertise behind the proposed development it will certainly be interesting to see what other innovations they can bring to the cannabis industry.

Fortunately, it seems like the attitudes to cannabis in the Isle of Man are very forward-thinking, with the Minister for the Treasury, Dr Alex Allinson MHK, explaining that "the development of the Island's medicinal cannabis sector it a key part of the government's ambitions to diversify the economy as well as creating a vibrant new sector to attract more investment and skills to the Isle of Man." Dr Allinson also indicated that it was the intention to develop a "world-class infrastructure"  to nurture and support this bold step into the unknown. By working closely with the local community and the official representatives, through various avenues of consultation and collaboration, the Managing Director of Peel NRE, Myles Kitcher, feels strongly that there is a real sense of "positivity around the emerging industry on the Island" and that he hopes that the local residents will be happy with the development's "proposed campus style" which will deliver a range of "new educational and career opportunities".

It is hoped that this facility will deliver results on a number of levels and the keen focus on utilizing greener energy sources is certainly a huge positive. Whilst the exact nature of their research and proposed goals is still yet to be fully revealed, it is certainly an incredibly exciting prospect. This new facility could potentially become an international hub for research into cannabis and cannabinoids which would showcase the UK as a more forward-thinking and globally connected nation in terms of the future of cannabis. Having already seen the success of medicines like Sativex and Epidolex, there is clearly a huge potential for millions more people to be helped in some way via a cannabis-based medicine developed in the UK, so anything which has the potential to further investigate and prove the potential for cannabis to heal should be seen as a positive step. There is always hope that a greater range of research will provide enough evidence for the UK government to acknowledge the fact that their regulations on cannabis continue to cause huge problems for many of us and perhaps this new facility on the Isle of Man will be a prime example for others to follow.

We'll keep an eye on any further news in relation to this proposed development and keep you up-to-date as we learn more about their research and any potential new forms of cannabis and cannabinoid-based medicines.

Written and Published by Psy-23 in Weed World Magazine Issue 159

Featured Image: Pexels