New medical cannabis clinic opens in Guernsey

The Medical Cannabis Clinics (TMCC) has partnered with St Martin’s Grand Rue Pharmacy to launch a new facility on the island of Guernsey.

A new clinic, giving Guernsey residents the opportunity access medical cannabis prescriptions, medical cannabis, is opening its doors in St Martin from today (Tuesday 7 June).

The Medical Cannabis Clinic had been previously providing islanders access to the medicine through its prescribing doctors in the UK, but this will be the first time it has offered its services from a locally-based centre.

This means existing patients will no longer have to pay the £25 import fee for medicines to be shipped from mainland UK.

The new clinic will allow Guernsey-based patients to access their prescriptions more easily and faster, TMCC said, while also improving access for patients who would potentially benefit from the medicine.

The Medical Cannabis Clinic is partnering with St Martin’s Grand Rue Pharmacy to offer face to face consultations with Dr Scott Mitchell.

Dr Mitchell said: “Cannabis-based medicines have a huge potential to help patients with a vast range of illnesses and symptoms. Although it remains unlicensed, it has a good safety profile and can be a useful alternative when conventional therapies have been ineffective.

“Having a clinic here on the island means that we can provide the best quality of care, seeing patients face to face for their consultations.”

Medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in November 2018 and is used to treat a variety of chronic pain conditions such as MS, fibromyalgia and endometriosis.

It can also be used for gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS, as well as epilepsy and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.

The new St Martins Clinic is currently taking bookings online and will begin face to face appointments on Tuesday 7 June.

Sophie Gamwell, head of operations at Lyphe Group, added: “This is an important step in ensuring the expanding patient community in Guernsey receives the highest level of care and most cost-effective appointments on the island. Crucially, this new partnership means patients are able to receive their medication quicker and have their medication dispensed directly from St Martin’s Rue Pharmacy.”

The new clinic is based at 1-2 Maison Bellieuse, Le Grand Rue, St Martin, Guernsey, GY4 6RR.