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Import licences for cannabis prescriptions fall 77% as island services expand

  • Import licences for cannabis-based medicines dropped 77% from 798 in 2024 to 186 in 2025
  • On-island cannabis clinic prescriptions rose from 6,741 in 2022 to 19,778 in 2025
  • A cannabis-only pharmacy opened in 2025, enabling more patients to access prescriptions locally
  • Import licences peaked at 4,275 in 2021 before declining as on-island services expanded
  • Health and Social Care does not hold detailed prescribing data for individual GP practices or cannabis clinics

Key terms

Import licences
Official permissions that allow Guernsey residents to bring in cannabis-based medicines that have been prescribed by clinics based in the UK. These licences are issued by Health and Social Care and are required because cannabis products are controlled substances.
Import licences have become less necessary as Guernsey has developed its own local cannabis prescribing services, reducing islanders' reliance on UK-based clinics and the need to import medicines from off-island.
Cannabis-based medicinal products
Prescription medicines derived from the cannabis plant that are used to treat various medical conditions. These products contain active compounds from cannabis, including THC and CBD, and are legally prescribed by licensed clinics.
Guernsey introduced regulated access to these medicines through import licences in October 2020, and then established on-island prescribing clinics starting in 2022, making the island a regional pioneer in cannabis medicine access.
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the 'high' effect. In medicinal cannabis products, THC levels vary, and products with THC above 1% are more tightly controlled and require special licensing.
All cannabis medicines brought into Guernsey under the import licence scheme contain THC levels above 1%, meaning they fall under stricter regulatory controls than lower-THC products.
Freedom of information request
A formal request made by a member of the public to a government body asking for specific information or data that the authority holds. Public authorities are legally required to respond to such requests within set timeframes.
Guernsey operates a freedom of information system that allows residents to request data from government committees like Health and Social Care, providing transparency on public services including cannabis medicine licensing.
Cannabis Licensing Team
A specialist unit within Guernsey's Health and Social Care that manages the regulation and licensing of cannabis-based medicines on the island. This team processes import licences and maintains records of cannabis medicine access.
This team was established to administer Guernsey's unique cannabis medicine framework, handling both the import licence scheme introduced in 2020 and oversight as local prescribing services developed from 2022 onwards.
On-island dispensing
The process of prescribing and supplying cannabis medicines directly within Guernsey, rather than requiring patients to obtain prescriptions from UK clinics and import products. This includes local cannabis clinics and pharmacies that can provide these medicines.
On-island dispensing began in July 2022 when Guernsey opened its first cannabis clinic, and expanded with a dedicated cannabis-only pharmacy in 2025, dramatically reducing the need for import licences and making access more convenient for local patients.
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The number of import licences issued for cannabis-based medicinal products in Guernsey has fallen by 77% in the past year, according to figures released by Health and Social Care.

Import licences, which allow islanders to obtain cannabis prescribed by UK-based clinics, dropped from 798 in 2024 to 186 in 2025. The decline follows the opening of a cannabis-only pharmacy on the island in 2025, which has enabled more patients to access prescriptions locally.

The data, released in response to a freedom of information request, shows a dramatic shift in how islanders access cannabis-based medicines. Import licences peaked in 2021 at 4,275, but have declined steadily since the first on-island cannabis clinic opened in 2022.

Prescriptions issued and dispensed by on-island cannabis clinics have risen significantly since their introduction. In 2022, when on-island dispensing commenced in July, 6,741 prescriptions were issued. This figure more than doubled to 16,085 in 2023, and continued to rise to 17,886 in 2024 and 19,778 in 2025.

The monthly figures reveal relatively consistent demand throughout 2024 and 2025, with prescriptions typically ranging between 1,400 and 1,700 per month. September 2025 recorded the highest single month total at 1,781 prescriptions.

In 2024, prescription numbers fluctuated between 1,372 in February and 1,656 in December. The year showed a gradual upward trend, with the final quarter averaging 1,602 prescriptions per month.

The 2025 data shows similar patterns, with February recording 1,647 prescriptions and June reaching 1,695. The monthly average for 2025 was approximately 1,648 prescriptions, compared to 1,491 in 2024.

Health and Social Care clarified that it does not hold detailed prescribing data for individual GP practices or on-island cannabis clinics, as these do not fall under its remit. To obtain specific prescribing information, patients would need to contact individual practices and clinics directly.

The committee noted that import licences do not necessarily equate to prescriptions being dispensed to patients. All prescriptions issued for cannabis-based medicinal products under the import licence scheme contain THC levels above 1%.

The freedom of information request, submitted on 5 January 2026 and responded to on 24 April 2026, sought detailed information on cannabis prescriptions in Guernsey from July 2019 onwards. The requester asked for data on the types of cannabis products prescribed, quantities issued, and the number of individuals receiving prescriptions, broken down by calendar year.

While the committee could not provide the full scope of data requested, it supplied the closest equivalent information held by its Cannabis Licensing Team. This included import licence data dating back to October 2020, when the scheme was introduced, and aggregate prescription volumes from on-island cannabis clinics since July 2022.

General information on prescribed medicinal cannabis in Guernsey is available on the government website at gov.gg/mhc.

Q&A

Q: Why have import licences for cannabis prescriptions fallen so dramatically?
A: The 77% drop from 798 licences in 2024 to 186 in 2025 is attributed to the opening of a cannabis-only pharmacy on the island in 2025, which has enabled more patients to access prescriptions locally rather than importing from UK-based clinics.

Q: How many cannabis prescriptions are now issued on-island?
A: On-island cannabis clinics issued 19,778 prescriptions in 2025, up from 6,741 when on-island dispensing commenced in July 2022. The figure has grown steadily each year.

Q: Does Health and Social Care hold detailed data on all cannabis prescriptions in Guernsey?
A: No. Primary care medical practices and on-island cannabis clinics do not fall under the committee's remit, so it does not hold specific prescribing data. Patients would need to contact individual GP practices and cannabis clinics directly for that information.

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