Medical cannabis legislation has been introduced in Ireland’s lower house of Parliament, the Irish Times reports. The legislation would create a cannabis regulatory authority which would develop the program and approve conditions.
Although the measure does not outline which conditions would be eligible for medical cannabis therapy, supporters of the legislation pointed to conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Dravet syndrome as justification for their support of the bill.
“I know…that many MS sufferers already obtain cannabis oil to give them relief but mainly the use of cannabis alleviates the nausea, muscle spasms and pain that go with multiple sclerosis,” People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith said in the report.
The Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill also has provisions for labelling, testing, and advertising, including plans to “promote awareness and an understanding more broadly of cannabis and its effects.”
Only people with prescriptions could possess drug and there would be strict restrictions on selling it.
“We are trying to facilitate the use of cannabis and cannabis-related products for medicinal purposes but these would be ones that have already been experimented on and would clearly have to be prescribed by a medical practitioner or consultant,” Smith said.
There is currently no timeline for debate on the bill.