Medical cannabis prescriptions nearly triple since 2022 launch in Guernsey, but tracking the impact is problematic
- Medical cannabis prescriptions in Guernsey increased from 6,741 in the second half of 2022 to 19,778 in 2025, nearly tripling since the programme's launch
- Opioid analgesic prescriptions rose from 17,017 in 2020 to 19,226 in 2025, showing steady growth alongside medical cannabis prescriptions
- Health services are currently unable to track cannabis-induced psychosis or Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome admissions due to limitations in the patient record system
- Psychiatric admissions to Oberlands Centre mentioning cannabis remained stable at 18 cases in both 2024 and 2025, out of total psychosis admissions of 36 and 27 respectively
- Implementation of a new Electronic Patient Record system is expected to improve tracking of substance-related diagnoses and hospital presentations
The number of medical cannabis prescriptions issued in Guernsey has nearly tripled since the programme's launch in mid-2022, according to data released by Health and Social Care.
Prescriptions rose from 6,741 in the second half of 2022 to 19,778 in 2025, representing consistent year-on-year growth. The figures were disclosed in response to a freedom of information request seeking data on medical cannabis, opioid prescriptions, and substance-related hospital admissions since the initiation of medical cannabis use in late 2020.
The Cannabis licensing team provided aggregate data showing 16,085 prescriptions were issued in 2023 and 17,886 in 2024. General information on prescribed medicinal cannabis in Guernsey is publicly available on the government website.
Opioid analgesic prescriptions also increased during the same period, though at a more modest rate. Annual prescription items rose from 17,017 in 2020 to 19,226 in 2025, according to data recorded in accordance with the British National Formulary coding system.
The figures show opioid prescriptions dipped slightly to 16,987 in 2022 before rising again to 18,069 in 2023 and 18,972 in 2024.
The FOI response revealed gaps in the health service's ability to track substance-related hospital admissions. Health and Social Care stated it is currently unable to reliably identify and extract data relating to specific diagnoses such as cannabis-induced psychosis or Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.
The committee said it anticipates the implementation of a new Electronic Patient Record system will improve the ability to search and report on specific diagnoses in the future. Once operational, Emergency Department data is expected to be searchable for conditions such as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.
The position is more complex regarding cannabis-induced psychosis. The committee explained that while patients may present to the Emergency Department with psychotic symptoms and a history of cannabis use, determining whether cannabis is the cause generally requires specialist assessment, observation and investigation.
"As such, a diagnosis of cannabis-induced psychosis would not ordinarily be confirmed within the ED and would typically fall within the remit of mental health services," the response stated.
The current patient record system also does not enable production of accurate and comprehensive data relating to alcohol-related attendances, though this is expected to improve with the new EPR system.
Staff within the Emergency Department have observed patients presenting with Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in recent years, the committee confirmed. In some cases, these presentations have been sufficiently severe to require admission for higher levels of care.
"More broadly, the Department routinely manages patients experiencing adverse effects associated with a range of substances, including alcohol, prescribed medications and illicit drugs, some of whom present with serious or life-threatening conditions," the response stated.
The committee noted that as with any substance used recreationally or therapeutically, cannabis has the potential to cause adverse health effects in some individuals. It said an increase in prevalence of use within a population may be accompanied by a corresponding increase in presentations related to adverse effects.
Limited data was available for psychiatric admissions to Crevichon Ward at the Oberlands Centre for 2024 and 2025. Records showed 36 admissions related to psychosis in 2024 and 27 in 2025.
Of these, 18 admissions in each year mentioned cannabis. Fewer than five psychosis-related admissions in each year mentioned polysubstance use including cannabis. Admissions mentioning alcohol totalled 13 in 2024 and nine in 2025.
The Community Drug and Alcohol Team only began recording diagnosis information from 2024, logging it on discharge forms to patients' GPs as the previous electronic patient record system had nowhere to record this information. CDAT does not have any dedicated beds on the ward.
Referrals accepted by the Community Drug and Alcohol Team increased from 84 in 2020 to 125 in 2025, peaking at 148 in 2023. All patients are seen as outpatients.
Home Affairs was unable to provide statistics on arrests made for diversion of opioid medications or medical cannabis. It explained that when an individual is arrested on suspicion of such an offence, it is not possible to know for certain whether the substance in their possession is medicinal.
Furthermore, even where an arrested individual has a licence for medical cannabis or prescription for opioid medications, this does not necessarily confirm that any or all such substance in their possession is that which they have been prescribed.
Health and Social Care publishes a range of information about substance use in the Bailiwick through Public Health Services. The Combined Substance Use Strategy considers drugs and alcohol, including tobacco, recognising that a range of substances have the potential to cause harm to population health.
Further information about drug and alcohol use in the Bailiwick is reported as part of five-yearly Wellbeing Surveys, which are available on the States of Guernsey website.
Q&A
Q: How many medical cannabis prescriptions were issued in Guernsey in 2025?
A: 19,778 medical cannabis prescriptions were issued in 2025, up from 6,741 in the second half of 2022 when the programme launched.
Q: Why can't Health and Social Care provide data on cannabis-induced psychosis admissions?
A: The current patient record system cannot reliably identify and extract data on specific diagnoses like cannabis-induced psychosis. A diagnosis typically requires specialist assessment rather than being confirmed in the Emergency Department, so such data would be held by mental health services rather than ED.
Q: What is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
A: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a condition that Emergency Department staff have observed in recent years, with some presentations severe enough to require admission for higher levels of care. The response notes it is a condition that may be routinely identified and recorded within the ED setting.
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