Jersey, the self-governing British Crown Dependency in the English Channel and the largest of the Channel Islands between England and France, has allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medical products since 2019. Between 2024 and 2025, medical cannabis prescriptions increased by roughly 35%.

“Doctors in Jersey prescribed more than 72,000 medicinal cannabis products in 2025, a 35% increase on the previous year, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request.” reported The Jersey Times. “The total rose from 53,477 prescriptions in 2024 to 72,065 last year – an increase of almost 20,000.”

“Separate figures released in July showed the number of licences to export cannabis from Jersey was increasing, while import licences were falling.” the outlet also reported.

The rise in medical cannabis prescriptions occurred at a time when lawmakers in Jersey have increasingly debated whether to modernize local cannabis policies to be more lenient toward recreational cannabis activity. Late last year, the State Assembly in Jersey was set to consider three proposed options:

1. To request the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward detailed proposals to be considered by the Attorney General (if adopted) to cease prosecution for offences associated with personal possession and associated cultivation of small quantities of cannabis subject to indicative thresholds, and treat personal cannabis use as a public health issue.

2. To request the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward detailed proposals to repeal or amend offences associated with personal possession and cultivation of small quantities of cannabis, subject to specific thresholds in law.

3. To request the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward detailed proposals for a trial of government-controlled production and sale of non-medical cannabis to understand and evidence whether safe and responsible regulation delivers public health benefits.

Consideration of the proposed options was eventually withdrawn in early 2026. However, according to Senator Tom Binet, the proposals are not dead and will be reconsidered “in due course.”