10-second summary: If you use cannabis and are applying for life insurance or mortgage protection in Ireland, you must disclose it. Most people are accepted. The outcome depends on frequency and which insurer you approach first. Going to the wrong insurer first can limit your options.
Editor’s note: Originally published 2016 | Fully rebuilt in 2026 to reflect current Irish underwriting practice.
If you use cannabis, even occasionally, and you’re applying for life insurance or mortgage protection in Ireland, you need to disclose it if asked on the application form.
That part is straightforward.
The more important issue is choosing the right insurer before you apply.
Most people assume cannabis use automatically spells trouble. In reality, most applications are accepted.
The final price depend on how often you use it, whether there is any associated medical history, and which insurer assesses the application.
We deal with this regularly.
The key is simply choosing the right insurer first, so you get the best terms available.
Do you need to tell the insurer about cannabis use?
If the application form asks about cannabis or recreational drug use, you must disclose it.
All Irish life insurers ask a version of the same question so you can’t avoid it by choosing one company over another.
Non-disclosure can invalidate a policy. That risk is far more serious than any premium increase.
Will cannabis use increase the cost of life insurance?
It depends on how much and how often.
In Ireland, occasional use is often treated by adding smoker rates.
More regular use can lead to an additional loading.
That loading might be around +50%, but it varies between insurers and depends on overall health.
There is no single rule that applies across the market.
Do you have to pay smoker rates if you don’t mix with tobacco?
Usually yes.
Even if cannabis isn’t mixed with tobacco, many insurers will still class you as a smoker.
That’s simply how they rate it.
They take a cautious view, and their pricing reflects that.
Will you need a medical exam?
In most cases, no.
For typical mortgage protection amounts, insurers are usually satisfied with a questionnaire about frequency and last use.
In higher cover amounts, or where there is other medical history, they may request a GP report.
The presence of cannabis use alone does not automatically trigger a medical exam.
What questions will insurers ask?
- How often do you use cannabis?
- When was it last used?
- Is there any history of dependency?
- Is there any associated mental health history?
- Have you received or been advised to seek treatment?
They’re looking at the bigger health picture rather than the fact that cannabis is involved.
Before you apply for mortgage protection in Ireland
This is the part that matters most.
All insurers ask about cannabis use but they don’t all assess it the same way.
Some will automatically classify you as a smoker.
Some may apply a loading for moderate use.
A small number may take a more flexible view where usage is occasional and there are no other concerns.
If you apply to a stricter insurer first and they apply a loading, that decision can follow you.
You may feel relieved to have cover in place, but you might not realise that better terms could have been available elsewhere.
With any medical or lifestyle disclosure, the order you apply in matters. Starting with the insurer that’s more comfortable with your situation usually makes the process simpler and, in many cases, more affordable.
How would an insurer know?
In standard mortgage protection applications, there isn’t routine drug testing, but there are random cotinine tests.
Insurers rely on the information you provide on the application form.
In higher cover amounts, or where there are other medical disclosures, they may request a GP report or medical exam.
If there’s a discrepancy between what’s disclosed and what appears in medical records, that’s when problems arise.
The bigger issue isn’t being “caught”. It’s that non-disclosure can invalidate a policy later.
It’s always safer to answer honestly and choose the right insurer from the start.
What about cannabis for medical use?
Where cannabis is prescribed or used for therapeutic reasons, insurers will focus primarily on the underlying condition being treated.
In many cases, regular prescribed use is treated similarly to moderate recreational use from a pricing perspective, but the main underwriting attention is on the medical history itself.
Does CBD affect life insurance in Ireland?
CBD products that do not contain THC are generally not treated as recreational drug use.
If CBD is being used to manage anxiety, depression, pain or another condition, the insurer will assess the underlying condition rather than the CBD product itself.
If THC is present, disclosure may still be required.
Can you get life insurance as a cannabis user?
The short answer is yes, cover is usually available.
The outcome depends on frequency, your overall health, and which insurer reviews the application.
Over to you
If you’ve used cannabis and are arranging life insurance or mortgage protection in Ireland, the key is to apply correctly the first time.
With a medical history or lifestyle disclosure, going to the wrong insurer first can make things harder than they need to be.
If you’d like me to review your situation before you apply anywhere, complete the short questionnaire below and I’ll guide you from there.
Complete the confidential questionnaire here
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, an independent Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He’s been helping people get fair, transparent cover for over 15 years — and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you’d like straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.