Guernsey's health department denies prescribing marijuana

The Health and Social Service Department (HSSD) has denied treating a Guernsey patient with marijuana.

However, it has admitted that individuals can be prescribed the drug in "compelling cases".

It follows a report in the Guernsey Press that an individual received the Class B drug from his doctor.

The HSSD said it had "never issued a cannabis licence and no licence application has ever been made."

It said to get a licence doctors needed to explain why medicinal marijuana was the only option for treating pain.

This permit would then allow an individual to have cannabis in their possession and to authorise its importation, possession and supply by a named person, pharmacist, pharmacy or facility.

A spokeswoman for the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Group said: "Under current legislation cannabis plants and resin are classified under Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1974 as a Class B drug.

"Therefore it is a criminal offence in the Bailiwick to possess, supply or import this substance."