Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010
575 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 29 June 2010, if she received the expert clinical advice that she has sought on this matter; if she intends to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1977 to allow doctors to prescribe Sativex; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31952/10]
View answer673 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children if she intends to have the drug Sativex made available to sufferers of MS and other related diseases in the immediate future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32799/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 673 together.
My Department is currently in the process of seeking expert clinical advice on the use of cannabis based medicinal products (such as Sativex) for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). If the expert advice indicates that the product Sativex is beneficial in the treatment of MS, my Department will examine what changes are required to the Misuse of Drugs legislation to allow for the possession, prescribing and dispensing of the medicinal product Sativex.
