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Jersey's mental health service is reviewing the "issues" raised by an inquest which concluded that the medicinal cannabis prescription of an islander who took her own life “more likely than not affected her mental health adversely”.
Rebecca Louise Vibert (46) was found dead in her home in March last year.
An inquest into her death concluded that she had taken her own life following a history of mental illness, bi-polar and anxiety.
Relief Coroner Sarah Whitby said: "Mental Health Services were proactive in attempting to support [Ms Vibert] in the last months of her life, as was her family. She made a decision to end her life despite this."
However, Ms Whitby also raised concerns that Ms Vibert had taken prescribed medicinal cannabis in 2022, which she concluded "more likely than not affected her mental health adversely, at that time".
Pictured: An inquest into the death of Rebecca Louise Vibert found that she had taken her own life.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has previously expressed the view that medicinal cannabis should not be prescribed in conjunction with a serious mental illness.
Jersey's Director of Mental Health and Adult Social Care, Andy Weir, previously stated: "Our advice is that the use of cannabis, where there is an associated mental health problem, is not a good idea."
Speaking following the inquest, Mr Weri said: “We have already started looking at the issues raised by [the] inquest, and are in communication with Ms Vibert’s family in relation to this.
"Our thoughts remain with them.”
It comes after a recent audit of the number of medicinal cannabis prescriptions dispensed in Jersey revealed a "significant" difference in prescribing levels between Jersey and England – with 6% of the island's working population holding a prescription of medicinal cannabis, compared to just 0.05% in England.
Pictured: Andy Weir, Director of Mental Health and Adult Social Care.
It also emerged that some patients had been receiving prescriptions from two or more prescribers in the same month for amounts that "could reasonably be assumed to be for more than one month's supply".
The results of the audit sparked alarm in government, with Ministers with political responsibility for medicinal cannabis immediately announcing plans to take action.
Earlier this month, Environment Minister Steve Luce, who is responsible for regulation, said work to develop legislation to regulate and inspect cannabis clinics had commenced.
However, he confirmed the new policy is not expected to be ready for debate in the States Assembly until 2026.
Pictured: Environment Minister Steve Luce is responsible for the regulation of medicinal cannabis.
Earlier this week, the Chief Minister revealed that drug testing for civil servants is being considered following the results of the audit.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham confirmed that the testing is being considered as part of a broader update of the Substance Misuse Policy, which applies to all public workers.
He said that the testing could be compulsory or voluntary "depending on a person’s role and their capability".
Gov employees could face compulsory drug testing
Work underway to develop laws for cannabis clinic regulation
IN NUMBERS: Jersey's medicinal cannabis usage
Medicinal cannabis clampdown looms after Jersey audit sparks "significant concern"
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