Medical cannabis can play a valuable role in people’s lives

Following the recent coverage regarding cannabis use in Guernsey, I feel it is important to offer a perspective that is often missing from the wider discussion.

I am a long-term Guernsey resident and have been legally prescribed medical cannabis since it first became available. My prescription was originally arranged through a UK specialist and delivered by post. I use it to help manage chronic pain and inflammation as part of a wider pain management routine.

It does not remove my pain completely, but it allows me to live with it in a more manageable way and reduces my reliance on stronger pharmaceutical painkillers. For me, this treatment is not about recreation – it is about maintaining a reasonable quality of life.

What is often overlooked in these discussions is the number of ordinary, responsible people who benefit from this medication. I have lived a full working life, maintained a home, and contributed to society. My experience with cannabis has never led to harmful behaviour – quite the opposite.

At the same time, many people in Guernsey are facing increasing pressures. The rising cost of food, fuel, and electricity, alongside ongoing discussions around taxation and public finances, are adding to the strain on everyday life. These pressures affect both physical and mental wellbeing.

In that context, treatments like medical cannabis can also help people cope – not only with long-term health conditions, but with the stress and anxiety that come with modern living.

There also remains a clear inconsistency in how substances are viewed. Alcohol, which is widely associated with social and health harms, is accepted, while prescribed medical cannabis continues to carry stigma.

This is not about promoting misuse. It is about recognising that, when properly prescribed and responsibly used, medical cannabis can play a valuable role in people’s lives, especially at a time when many are feeling stretched both financially and emotionally.

I hope future discussions and reporting can reflect a more balanced picture – one that includes the voices of patients who benefit from this treatment.

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