Increased use of medicinal cannabis
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WQ.49/2026
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
BY DEPUTY D.J. WARR OF ST. HELIER SOUTH
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2026
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2026
Question
"Further to the response to Written Question 11/2026, and the increased use of medicinal cannabis, will the Minister provide details of –
- the change, if any, in the demographic of users of medicinal cannabis over the last 5 years;
- the impact, if any, of the use of prescribed cannabis on the use of other medication (for example opioids or benzodiazepines) over the past 5 years; and
- the number of individuals referred to adult mental health services where the use of cannabis was a contributory factor and where cannabis had been locally prescribed?"
Answer
- We do not collect demographic information in respect of private prescriptions dispensed for medicinal cannabis, and therefore we are unable to report on any changes in the demographic profile of patients over the past five years.
- Similarly, as private prescriptions are issued and managed outside the public health system, we do not have access to individual patient records. Consequently, we are unable to assess any relationship between the use of prescribed medicinal cannabis and the use of other prescribed medicines, whether issued privately or through the Health Insurance Fund.
- We are not able to provide information in relation to all referrals to adult mental health services and cannabis use, as this information is not currently collated (but is of course recorded in the individual patient record). We also do not have access to prescribing data for medicinal cannabis, and patients do not always disclose when they are in receipt of this. However, the adult mental health leadership team have recently been discussing this, and plan to implement a system to record all concerns regarding cannabis use across our community services, as we have been doing in the inpatient setting for the last year.