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A recent audit of medicinal cannabis prescriptions found evidence 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 audit also revealed a "significant" difference in prescribing levels between Jersey and England – with 6% of the island's working population holding a prescription compared to just 0.05% over the water.
The results of the audit sparked alarm in government, with Ministers with political responsibility for medicinal cannabis seeking to take swift action.
Express took a look at the audit's findings...
Medicinal cannabis is an unlicensed medicine which may be legally prescribed to patients in Jersey.
It can be prescribed by doctors or other prescribing professionals, such as prescribing nurses, although in practice it is currently only prescribed by doctors.
The audit was undertaken to:
• understand the number of medicinal cannabis prescriptions dispensed in Jersey
• understand the number of individual patients in receipt of a medicinal cannabis,
• compare Jersey data with equivalent data in England,
• quantify the numbers of prescriptions dispensed per prescriber.
This audit only includes information about private prescriptions of unlicensed medicinal cannabis.
An unlicensed medicine is one which is not officially licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of a particular health condition.
The audit does not include data about prescriptions for licensed medicinal cannabis products, such those prescribed by hospital consultants to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Medicinal cannabis is controlled drug. This means that is subject to high levels of regulation or control because of decisions taken about the addictive or potentially harmful nature of the drug.
In Jersey, these controls include requiring any pharmacist who dispenses medicinal cannabis to provide a monthly return to the Chief Pharmacist setting out the amount and type of medicinal cannabis dispensed to patients and the name of the doctor who prescribed the medicinal cannabis.
The Chief Pharmacist works for the Health and Community Service Department.
This audit was undertaken by examining the monthly returns provided by pharmacists to the Chief Pharmacist in 2022 and the first six months of 2023.
The total medical cannabis prescriptions dispensed in Jersey from January to December 2022 was 23,639.
The total estimated medical cannabis patients in Jersey from January to December 2022 was 4,361.
In 2022 there were 529 personal import licences for medicinal cannabis, meaning that people imported medicinal cannabis into Jersey rather than buying it locally.
These imports are not included because the audit focuses on local dispensing activity however, it is the case that the total numbers of prescriptions in 2022 was 23,639 + 529 = 24,168.
The total medical cannabis prescriptions dispensed in Jersey from January to June 2033 was 16,714.
The total estimated medical cannabis patients in Jersey from January to June 2033 was 2,880.
From January to June 2023 there were 201 personal import licences for medicinal cannabis, meaning that people imported medicinal cannabis into Jersey rather than buying it locally.
If these were to be included in the audit the total numbers of prescriptions for the first six months of 2023 would be 16,714 + 201 = 16,915.
There were 18 medicinal cannabis prescribers in Jersey in 2022.
Each prescriber has been issued an individual identifying number from 1 to 18.
There were 20 medicinal cannabis prescribers in Jersey in the first six months of 2023.
Each prescriber has been issued an individual identifying number from 1 to 20.
1. Volume of dispensing is notably higher in Jersey than the UK by percentage of population.
2. In one month (January 2023) 30 individual patients received prescriptions from two or more prescribers in Jersey. Some patients received multiple prescriptions from the same clinic, some received prescriptions from different clinics.
3. Multiple prescriptions were for amounts that would reasonably be assumed to be more than one months’ supply of medicinal cannabis. NICE guidance advises no more than a 30-days’ supply to be issued at a time. NHS guidance also advises 30 days’ supply.
Environment Minister Steve Luce, who is responsible for regulation, described the difference in prescribing levels between Jersey and the UK as "significant" and said that he was now "committed to developing the legislation necessary to regulate and inspect cannabis clinics in Jersey".
"The audit also suggests that some people are receiving multiple prescriptions at levels which may be harmful to their health – this is of significant concern," he continued.
Health Minister Tom Binet, meanwhile, emphasised a need for better data sharing between prescribers.
"...We need to facilitate the sharing of accurate, timely information to aid cannabis clinics in their prescription decisions and to ensure that patients’ GPs have access to necessary information," he added.
Medicinal cannabis clampdown looms after Jersey audit sparks "significant concern"
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