In early autumn 2023, the Government of Jersey undertook an audit of Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use (CBPMs) dispensing. 

CBPMs are commonly called medicinal cannabis, which is the term used in this paper. Medicinal cannabis is an unlicenced 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. Medicinal cannabis is a 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 6 months of 2023. ​