As you know, I published the Health Products Regulatory Authority’s report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’ in February and announced my intention to establish a Cannabis Access Programme for cannabis-based treatments to be provided for qualifying patients. The HPRA report recommended that patients accessing cannabis through the programme should be under the care of a medical consultant.
The Chief Medical Officer’s advice reiterates that it is crucial that the granting of a cannabis licence takes due care and consideration of the potential unintended consequences associated with the prescription of cannabis, a schedule 1 controlled drug, for medical purposes, and that its use is endorsed by a consultant who is familiar with and responsible for the care of the individual for whom the licence application is being made.
It has been reported that there is a legal barrier preventing consultants from prescribing cannabis-based treatments. In fact, there is no such legal barrier. It remains open to me, as Minister for Health, to consider granting a licence under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, where the proposed course of treatment has been endorsed by a consultant.