Rise in number of cannabis export licences

Licences to export cannabis are rising while licences to import the drug are falling, according to new data.

Jersey's Office of the Chief Pharmacist approved 167 licences to export cannabis off the island in 2025, compared with 87 in 2024 and 26 in 2023, a Freedom of Information request showed.

It approved a total of 216 licences to import cannabis into the island in 2025, including both personal and commercial imports - a decrease on the 228 recorded in 2024 and 286 in 2023.

Northern Leaf, a Jersey-based company which makes medicinally used cannabis-based products, said efficient licence approvals had been a factor in the growth of exports.

While the figures showed the level of regulated trading, they do not show the volume of cannabis imported and exported.

Northern Leaf chief executive Steven Tan said the company had increased the number of exports with licences to export normally approved by the government in 48 hours.

"This gives companies like Northern Leaf the speed and certainty needed to respond to customer demand, maintain reliable supply chains and help medicines reach patients across the UK and Europe without unnecessary delays," he said.

"That efficient approach has been a major factor in Northern Leaf's growth and in Jersey establishing itself as a credible exporter to key markets such as Germany."

Tan said Northern Leaf accounted for "nearly all of current medical cannabis production" in Jersey.

"We are grateful to the previous government for taking an innovative and supportive approach to the sector," he said.

"We are confident the new government will build on that progress with a clear, long-term commitment to Jersey's bio-pharmaceutical industry, which is already attracting investment, creating skilled jobs and delivering real value for the island."

The Freedom of Information request also found more than 11.5 tonnes of locally cultivated cannabis product, including all waste material, were destroyed last year.

Northern Leaf said the destroyed material was mainly leaves, stems and other plant material that cannot be used in medical products.

It added that any cannabis crop that failed to meet strict quality and safety standards also had to be destroyed and was disposed of through the island's clinical waste system.

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.