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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 3

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

207 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will request the Irish Medicines Board to review research in Britain which appears to indicate that marijuana based medicines taken on prescription are safe and can ease the pain of persons with certain illnesses; his views on making such medicines available here and if the board considers they are safe and beneficial to the health of persons with certain illnesses. [6322/02]

Cannabis is a schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984. It is also one of the controlled drugs which has been designated for the purposes of section 13 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977.

The nature of the controls provided in this manner are those which, according to the current UN Conventions on Narcotic Drugs and Psycho tropic Substances, must be applied to substances, such as cannabis and cannabis resin, for which there is no current recognised medical or scientific use. Under these laws, the manufacture, possession, supply, and prescription of such drugs are prohibited, except under licence from the Minister for Health and Children.
By virtue of the designation under section 13 of the Act, licences may be only granted for the purpose of research, forensic analysis, or in respect of the use of the drug as an essential intermediate or starting material in an industrial manufacturing process. Licences may also be granted in the case of certain low tetrahydrocannabinol plant varieties of cannabis for the growing of hemp. In granting a licence for the purpose of research involving any of the designated controlled drugs such as cannabis, the Minister must be satisfied with regard to the scientific or medical justification offered in support of the application.
I am aware that claims are being made in respect of cannabis about the possible benefits for patients suffering from certain conditions such as multiple sclerosis and glaucoma. However, these medical claims are not currently supported by the results of recognised medical research. If an application were to be made to me for a licence under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, and the orders and regulations made thereunder, which proposed the conduct of research into the therapeutic use of cannabis, in circumstances where the approval of the Irish Medicines Board under the Control of Clinical Trials Act, 1987 were to be forthcoming and which would be likely to obtain the necessary approval of the appropriate Ethics Committee under that Act, I would be prepared to give serious consideration to the grant of the required licence(s) under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.
I understand research into the medical use of cannabis is under way in Britain. This research is not yet complete. However, my Department will be monitoring the outcome of this work.
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