Medicinal cannabis prescriptions rise by 35%

News imageBBC Close-up of a white medical cannabis container labelled “AURORA PEDANIOS 8/8”. The label states “Medizinal-Cannabisblüten Varietät” and lists 8.4% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 8.4% cannabidiol (CBD). The container sits on a wooden surface, with other blurred prescription containers visible in the background.BBC
GPs have been able to prescribe cannabis-based products since 2019

Doctors prescribed nearly 20,000 more medicinal cannabis products last year than the year before, a freedom of information request (FOI) has found.

A total of 72,065 prescriptions of cannabis-based products for medicinal use were prescribed in 2025 - a 35% rise on the 53,477 in 2024.

GPs have been able to prescribe cannabis-based products since 2019 after a change in the law.

Police said medicinal cannabis use had made it more difficult for officers to distinguish between legal and illegal drug use.

A separate FOI in July found licences to export cannabis were rising in the island, whilst licences to import the drug were falling.

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