CANNABIS use was a “contributory factor” in 22% of admissions to the acute adult mental-health ward last year, according to new figures released by the Health Minister.
Deputy Tom Binet published the data in response to a written question from Deputy David Warr.
The minister explained: “Work is underway within adult mental-health services to actively monitor all admissions to the service where the use of cannabis – both prescribed and unprescribed – may be a contributory factor to the admission.
“In 2025, this was identified in 22% of admissions to the acute adult mental health admission ward.
“This is also an issue that is discussed and considered at the Mental Health Strategic Partnership Board.”
The figures showed that the total number of hospital admissions for mental health conditions had stayed relatively consistent over the last five years, with a low of 214 admissions in 2024 and a high of 276 admissions in 2021.
Last year, there were 233 hospital admissions for mental-health conditions.
Deputy Binet also confirmed that a total of 33,296 medicinal cannabis prescription items were dispensed in Jersey from January to June 2025.
“Final 2025 prescribing data are expected to be available in the coming weeks,” he added.
It comes after mental health director Andy Weir raised concerns last year about prescribing practices for Islanders with serious mental illness amid a “notable increase” in inpatient admissions for in those prescribed large amounts of medicinal cannabis.
“We’re seeing a significant increase in mental health patients that are requiring admission acutely – for example, to Orchard Ward – who have been using large amounts of prescribed cannabis prior to that admission,” Mr Weir explained.
He told the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel last year that there were “significant concerns” about the volume of cannabis being prescribed and the nature of those prescriptions, particularly for people with known serious mental illnesses.
“People with psychotic illness, for example, are becoming unwell more quickly – and perhaps more unwell – because they’re utilising cannabis instead of prescribed medicines,” he said.
The mental health director also raised concerns about risks of increased psychotic symptoms, especially in young people.
“There’s really good evidence around young people and the use of cannabis when brains are developing that shows that that high volumes of cannabis can significantly lead to psychotic symptoms,” he said.
“So we’re seeing people that are struggling anyway, who are just struggling more because of the prescribing of medicinal cannabis.”
