LOCAL cannabis clinics and producers have backed calls for reforms to protect patients and bring greater oversight to what has been described as a “wild west” prescribing culture in Jersey.
Following a visit to the Island by Charlotte Caldwell – whose son’s case changed UK medical cannabis laws in 2018 – industry professionals have voiced support for stronger oversight, better separation between medical and recreational use, and a more structured local supply chain.
Speaking exclusively to the JEP following her visit, Ms Caldwell warned that Jersey risked repeating mistakes seen in other jurisdictions if rigorous safeguards are not introduced to prevent recreational users getting hold of large volumes of cannabis through the medical market.
This system, she argued, risks undermining care for seriously ill patients like her son – who has a rare and severe form of epilepsy – by driving up prices and creating stigma that puts some doctors off prescribing the medicine.
“Right now, it’s the wild west,” she told the JEP. “There’s prescribing going on with very little clinical oversight.”
Her comments follow earlier warnings from health minister Tom Binet and mental health director Andy Weir, who both raised concerns about the way cannabis is currently being prescribed in Jersey and the pace at which the sector was introduced.
Ms Caldwell also argued that Jersey cannabis clinics should stop importing products and build a local supply chain instead.
Responding to Ms Caldwell’s comments, the medical director of Carpathia Clinic told the JEP she shared those concerns and believed parts of the system were now fuelling the illegal market.
Echoing Ms Caldwell’s characterisation of the industry, Dr Kirstie Ross said: “The prescribing in Jersey is the ‘wild west’.
“We are following the guidelines, but it is clear that other clinics are not. The fear that prescriptions of high-dose, high volume amounts are being prescribed inappropriately is being realised.”
She continued: “The illegal market is now solely supplied by the legal prescribing market and the supply comes from one clinic only,” she added.
Dr Ross said Carpathia had worked with experts to develop a set of safe prescribing guidelines based on UK medical standards.
These were submitted to the Government 18 months ago, but have not yet been adopted.
“It is essential they are implemented as soon as possible to protect everybody involved,” Dr Ross said.
She also welcomed Ms Caldwell’s call to build up a local supply chain using Jersey growers.
“Promoting Genuine Jersey will maintain quality and keep prices down. We are continuously working with local growers to inform and direct the best products for the market, using our experience with patients to hone bespoke production for Jersey patients.”
Medicann, Jersey’s first clinic to prescribe medical cannabis, also backed the need for high standards but pushed back against suggestions the market was out of control.
Chief executive Gary Whipp said: “We agree with Ms Caldwell and local healthcare leaders that Jersey has a unique opportunity to set the standard globally by establishing a gold-standard, ethical model for medical cannabis – one that separates clinical care from recreational use, safeguards vulnerable patients, and ensures safe, regulated access.”
However, he added that claims of a “wild west” environment were “inaccurate and unhelpful”.
“We follow rigorous prescribing guidelines and believe any practitioner not adhering to these should be subject to regulatory review,” he said.
Northern Leaf, one of Jersey’s main cannabis producers, said it supported the idea of building a local supply chain – but warned that several challenges needed to be addressed first.
Chief executive Steven Tan said: “I think that any domestic supply of medicines can be beneficial for all the reasons [Ms Caldwell] stated.
“[But] the barriers the current Jersey cannabis companies face is enough volume locally to justify a total domestic supply chain.”
He said the closure of specialist cannabis testing lab Jersey Pharm Labs earlier this year had left a lack of testing capacity, and without this, companies have to rely on importing products already tested and packaged overseas
“The scales of economy of ‘imported’ medicinal supply will and should give the patient better financial access,” Mr Tan said.
While most of Northern Leaf’s products are currently exported to Germany and the UK, Mr Tan confirmed the company is planning to expand its operations to include processing and packaging services in-house.
