States investigating cannabis-related admissions

Guernsey's director of public health has said the States is investigating the rise of cannabis-related admissions to the island's mental health ward over the last four years.

It comes after the most recent report on Guernsey's Mental Health and Well Being Strategy showed 18% of admissions were cannabis related in 2025, a total of 22.

Dr Nicola Brink said, while that was a reduction from the peak of admissions in 2023 (25%), the general rise since 2021 (2%) was a "concern".

She said the rise had been investigated by the States' Misuse of Drugs advisory group, and the chief pharmacist.

"That is an area that we're concerned about... prior to the introduction of medicinal cannabis in the islands in 2019, the cannabis related admissions on Crevichon were around 4%," she said.

It is not currently known whether the patients admitted to Crevichon had used prescription or illicit cannabis, or in what capacity.

Charity Guernsey Mind offers a supported self-help service to teach islanders how to manage their mental health.

Charity chief executive Jo Cottell said, while she had not heard many cannabis-related health concerns from visitors, the risks were clear.

"Cannabis use absolutely impacts on people's mental health," she said.

"So we would obviously discuss that with an individual if they came in, to see how we might help them, but we're not clinicians - I think that's the important thing to say."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.