Unlicensed Cannabis Based Medicinal Products (CBPMs)

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This guidance does not cover​​

• This guidance does not apply to licensed CBPMs such as Sativex​ and Dronabinol. 
  

​What are unlicensed CBPMs?​

Unlicensed Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products (CBPMs) are dried cannabis flowers or oils made for medicinal use; they are usually called ‘medicinal cannabis’. They are only available in Jersey through private prescriptions paid for by the patient. 

CBPMs are an “unlicensed” medicine because they haven’t gone through full testing to prove their safety or effectiveness. They are not recommended for routine use, but may be prescribed if other treatments haven’t worked. 

When may unlicensed CBPMs be prescribed?

A healthcare professional, who is qualified to prescribe medications, may decide to prescribe unlicensed CBPMs and oversee their use when the patient has unmet clinical needs, meaning other treatments haven’t worked.  

For this reason, it is important that before using CBPMs you think about and discuss the following with your health care professional: 

• your medical history 
• previous treatments or medications you have tried, and why they haven’t helped your condition or symptoms  

Important considerations before using unlicensed CBPMs

CBPMs pose a higher risk if you or any family member has a history of schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms, or other significant psychological condition. 

CBPMs also pose higher risks to people under 25, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people trying to conceive. 

It is also important that you: 

• ​understand the potential risks, side effects and impact to your overall health and medical condition 
• understand how much CBPMs cost. Unlike many other medications in Jersey, they are not available for free 

Legal responsibilities when using unlicensed CBPMs

CBPMs are cannabis, which is a controlled drug. This means there are strict laws about their use. If you’re prescribed CBPMs:

• it's a criminal offence to sell, share, or give them to anyone else
• they must not be smoked
• ​you must not drive or operate heavy machinery if CBPMs affect your ability to do so safely

The law doesn’t make exceptions for prescribed medicines like CBPMs, so you’re responsible for assessing your own ability to drive.

You may be asked by police, customs, or security to prove that your CBPMs were legally prescribed. If you can’t prove this, your medicine could be confiscated until you provide the necessary evidence. To avoid this, you should consider:

• carrying only the amount of CBPMs you need when leaving your home
• asking your prescriber about how to prove your prescription if needed
• using CBPMs discretely if in public ​

Travelling to or from Jersey with CBPMs in your possession​​

If travelling to or from Jersey with CBPMs in your possession you must: 

• ​be able to prove your prescription at Jersey’s border  
• understand and follow the requirements of any country you are travelling to or through

Safety guidelines 

To minimise risks:

• always use CBPMs as prescribed and report any side effects to your prescriber and the Yellow Card Sc​heme
• store them out of reach of children, preferably in a locked container
• each time you take CBPMs, assess your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery before doing so 

Yell​ow c​ard scheme

The Yellow Card scheme helps the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) ​monitor the safety of all healthcare products in the UK to make sure they are safe for users.​