Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2017
249. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the process regarding granting a licence to access medicinal cannabis; the criteria he is using to decide on licences granted; if he will grant a licence for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12741/17]
View answerI hope you will understand that I cannot go into any detail relating to an individual.
Cannabis is strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 to 2016 and the Regulations made thereunder.
You will already be aware, it remains open to me as the Minister for Health to grant a licence under the Misuse of Drugs Act for access to cannabis for medical purposes in individual cases. Such applications will be considered on a case by case basis. The granting of a licence must, however, be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
The appropriateness of any particular treatment is a matter between the patient and their doctor, I have no role in this process.
This information has been provided to the Oireachtas and is also contained in a recent Department of Health Press Release which outlines the advice provided by the Chief Medical Officer to me in relation to the use of cannabis for medical reasons.
The main elements of a licence application are expected to include:
- An outline of the treatment the patient has received to date and justification from the doctor as to why it is appropriate in their patient’s specific circumstances to prescribe a Schedule 1 drug.
- If the patient’s consultant is not the applicant, the views, if any, of the consultant in relation to the application.
- Details of the cannabis-based product which it is proposed to prescribe and administer to the patient.
- The source of the cannabis-based product.
- The arrangements for the ongoing monitoring and care of the patient once the cannabis-based treatment has commenced.
