Jersey to strengthen medicinal cannabis laws after inquest findings

Jersey's health minister has pledged to introduce tougher controls on medicinal cannabis prescribing in early 2027, following an inquest that raised concerns about the impact of treatment on a patient's behaviour and death.

David Morgan, 66, died in 2025 after inhaling smoke in his flat. The coroner found that a prescription for medicinal cannabis had contributed significantly to a deterioration in his behaviour, which ultimately contributed to his death.

Health Minister Tom Binet said the inquest had highlighted serious issues that needed to be addressed.

“The findings of the inquest highlight important issues, and action must be taken to ensure robust oversight and control of unlicensed medicinal cannabis prescribing in Jersey,” he said.

The Health Department confirmed that proposed legislative changes would require doctors to review patients' medical records before prescribing medicinal cannabis. Prescribers would also need to hold regular face-to-face consultations with patients during treatment, or before changing doses, and ensure any adverse reactions were recorded.

Medicinal cannabis has been prescribed by doctors in Jersey since 2018. The latest figures show that around 4,300 islanders - more than 4% of the population - currently receive prescriptions.

The number of prescriptions issued rose by 35% in a year, from 53,477 in 2024 to 72,065 in 2025.

Mr Binet said work to strengthen the legislation was already under way, citing existing concerns about the oversight of medicinal cannabis prescribing in the island.

Dr Kirstie Ross, medical director of Carpathia Clinic, welcomed the proposed reforms and stressed the importance of communication between healthcare professionals.

She said police, psychiatrists, GPs and other clinics needed to share information to help ensure treatment was prescribed to appropriate patients.

Dr Ross also highlighted the importance of identifying conditions that could make medicinal cannabis unsuitable, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, alongside ensuring patients received regular follow-up appointments with prescribing doctors.

She said she was encouraged by the prospect of changes to the legislation.

The coroner also recommended that prescriptions be suspended for some patients with mental health conditions while their cases undergo a review.

Family remembers 'a dad, a son, a brother'

Mr Morgan's family said the inquest marked “the end of a long and incredibly painful journey”.

In a statement, they described him as a father, son, brother and friend who was deeply loved by those around him.

“For us, he will always be the man we knew and loved before the final weeks of his life,” they said.

The family said they had been frightened as they witnessed what they described as a serious deterioration in his mental health during the final weeks of his life.