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Public Health officials have warned against young people using cannabis to self-medicate following a recent court case in which a teenage boy who used the Class B substance to treat his ADHD was "groomed" into selling harder drugs.
The Public Health department explained that the brain undergoes a number of changes during adolescence – which can continue until the age of 25.
Pictured: Public Health officials have issued a warning about the risks associated with children and young people using cannabis to treat mental health conditions.
In a statement, the department said: "Research suggests that using cannabis during this stage of brain development can have long-lasting implications.
“Self-medicating will generally not address the underlying causes of mental health problems and can delay accessing effective treatments.
"Repeated self-medication or using cannabis, alcohol or other drugs to cope often results in more problems over time and has its own risks."
Last month, a teenager – who cannot be named due to his age – was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis, amphetamines and ketamine and sentenced to 120 hours of community service.
Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, explained that the teen had already been in contact with drug dealers because he had been using cannabis to self-medicate his ADHD diagnosis.
Pictured: Opportunities to deal drugs were said to be "common knowledge amongst the youth", with news spreading through platforms like Snapchat.
Once he had started selling drugs, there had been an expectation and pressure to remain involved and to pay for his own cannabis use by selling the drugs.
"The fact of the matter is, he was groomed, he was taken advantage of and his ADHD made it easier for him to be exploited," the advocate said.
The Youth Court also heard that opportunities to deal drugs were "common knowledge amongst the youth", with news spreading through platforms like Snapchat.
This case brought to light an "emerging issue" identified in the 2023 Jersey Probation report.
The Probation Service highlighted a "significant safeguarding risk" around young people experimenting with drugs and getting into debt – leaving them at risk of exploitation by criminals.
The report explained: "We have become aware of a small number of children, who are experimenting with drugs and getting into difficulties with debts to those who supply them.
"On occasion, this has led to them being exploited by adults to become embroiled in illegal activity through selling drugs to others or agreeing to hold quantities of drugs for older suppliers."
Pictured: Some children are experimenting with drugs and getting into debt – leaving them at risk of exploitation by criminals, the Probation Service warned.
Chief Probation Officer Mike Cutland, however, stressed that only a small minority of children become involved in such activities in Jersey.
He said: "We have become aware of a number of children who have been using drugs, who have got into difficulties financially.
"It usually starts with them using and then being offered more drugs, some of which they can pass on to others."
Mr Cutland explained how this can lead to a "double bind" situation where children end up dealing or storing drugs for older criminals to pay off debts.
He said: "They're in trouble with the police because they've been acting illegally, and then they owe this money as well...and they may face threats or pressures from those they owe money to."
"It's a real problem for those children who get caught up in it – and it worries the living daylights out of their mums and dads and wider family."
Mr Cutland explained that the Probation Service aims to work with partner agencies to provide advice and support to children and families caught in this cycle.
These warnings come as a proposal to decriminalise personal cannabis possession and recreational use has sparked a heated debate among politicians.
In his proposition, Deputy Tom Coles argued that decriminalisation would "protect islanders" through a "harm reduction" approach.
While he initially sought to decriminalise cannabis for adults only, Deputy Coles has since expanded the proscription to include all ages.
Pictured: The changes put forward in a proposition from Deputy Tom Coles would mean decriminalising the personal possession and recreational use of cannabis.
This move aims to avoid creating a "status offence" that would still criminalise those under 18, and followed discussions with the Children's Commissioner and the Solicitor General.
However, Deputy Coles clarified: "It is not the design of this proposition to encourage anyone, of any age, in the use of cannabis, but to not criminalise those that do."
While Deputy Coles wants legislation to be in place by November 2025, the Council of Ministers is seeking more time to explore other approaches to cannabis –including possible legalisation or regulation.
In a report, the Council said: "Effective, safe legislation cannot be delivered within a November 2025 time-frame."
One of the reasons why they want to delay the debate is to allow time to consider the impact of relaxing cannabis laws on children.
They said this includes the use of the drug in the presence of minors, and approaches to minors or vulnerable people coerced into cannabis-related activities.
Islanders can contact the Alcohol and Drugs Service on 445000 for advice and support on cannabis use.
Details of mental health support islanders can found HERE.
App-based support for children and young people can be found HERE.
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