Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:43 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health his views on the possibility of the prescribing of cannabis by general practitioners. [17823/95]
Written Answers. - Prescribing of Cannabis by General Practitioners.
, Limerick East): Cannabis is a Schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984. This is the schedule of control which, according to the UN Conventions on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, must be applied to substances such as cannabis and cannabis resin, for which there is no current recognised medical or scientific use. The manufacture, possession, supply and prescription of the drug are prohibited, except under licence from the Minister for Health. Such licences may, under the law, be only granted for the purpose of research, forensic analysis, or in respect of the use of the drug as an essential starting material for the manufacture of other drugs.
The question of legalising cannabis is raised from time to time with frequent references to the medical and other benefits, which allegedly would be associated with such action. The position is that the medical claims being made in favour of cannabis are not supported by clinical research. My own view is that people and particularly young people who use cannabis can be easily led to experiment with the abuse of other addictive drugs and for these reasons I have no plans to provide for it on prescription.