“Decrease in use” of high volume medicinal cannabis products on island

Guernsey’s Chief Pharmacist has revealed that staff have seen a “decrease…in the number of patients being prescribed high volumes of cannabis-based products for medicinal use”.

In response to questions posed by Deputy Rob Prow, she cited a two year plan implemented to monitor prescribing of unlicensed medical cannabis, saying that a “decrease has been observed”.

The majority of medicinal cannabis used in Guernsey is prescribed via private clinics on private prescriptions. Unlike all other controlled drugs, there is no regulation on prescribing clinics.

Deputy Prow had asked for an update on work to monitor this system just months after the plan was put in place. That plan is intended to “provide a regulatory framework for the prescribing of unlicensed medical cannabis which would ensure compliance with health and safety laws and ethical prescribing practices”.

Health and Social Care confirmed that concerns were raised independently two years ago around the “consequences of legislative changes permitting local doctors to privately prescribe medicinal cannabis”.

HSC also said that “Guernsey’s drug environment is considered unique, with the limited ports of entry combined with vigilant border controls” leading to the “illicit supply of some medicines”.

The current implementation plan is part of efforts to tackle substance misuse, after HSC and Home Affairs took advice from the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Group.

It was noted that “key gaps in data collection and governance structures and their consequence on the misuse of drugs” were highlighted as a concern.

Implemention Plan Objectives:

Responding to Deputy Prow’s questions, HSC also said that a Controlled Drug Pharmacist should be recruited to help tackle substance misuse.

HSC said “the role has now been advertised for recruitment” and that “the post requires appointment at a senior pharmacist level due to the complexity and sensitivity of the remit”.