Cannabis campaigner Alan Gordon is suing Premier Michael Dunkley in a row over medicinal cannabis.

A writ, filed on September 17 lists Mr Gordon as a complainant, while Mr Dunkley, in his capacity as Minister of Public Safety, and Michael Desilva, the Commissioner of Police, are listed as defendants.

While the writ does not detail the nature of the legal action, it is understood to be a continuation of his efforts to make medical cannabis products more available to gravely ill patients.

Last month, Mr Gordon led a protest outside of OBA headquarters on Reid Street, calling on the Government to ease access to medicinal cannabis.

At that time, the Premier told the crowd that applications for a compassionate cannabis permit could be submitted to the Government, and had to be supported by a doctor.

“We are moving forward with medicinal marijuana, I will not be pushed into any timeline,” Mr Dunkley said.

Mr Gordon has also alleged that the Crown had created a double standard by turning a blind eye to his own “Hebrew religious large-scale cultivation and Christian medical-religious distribution” of cannabis while prosecuting atheists and Rastafarians. While he said the Bermuda Police Service was aware he cultivated around 80 cannabis plants this year, Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva said any suggestion that the service condoned his actions was misguided.

“Mr Gordon wrote to me in February of this year stating his intention to apply to the Courts for permission to grow cannabis,” the commissioner said in a statement. “He did not indicate to the police at the time, or any time after, that he was actually growing or ‘ferrying’ cannabis. A Court Order granting his request was never forthcoming, presumably because one was not granted.”

He added that the cultivation, possession and supply of cannabis is currently prohibited in Bermuda by the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Editor’s note: It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding on-going legal cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.