CANNABIS PILLS COULD SOON BE LEGALISED IN REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Medical advice is being sought by the Republic's Department of Health
in relation to cannabis-based medicinal products.

Irish Health Minister Mary Harney confirmed that her department is
currently seeking "expert advice on whether or not there is a need,
from a clinical perspective, to amend the Misuse of Drugs legislation
to allow for the use of cannabis-based medicinal products".

However, Ms Harney warned that: "As cannabis is the drug which is
most abused in Ireland, I am reluctant to loosen the controls on its use."

She said that she was aware that claims have been made in respect of
the possible health benefits of cannabis-based medicinal products for
patients suffering from certain conditions.

"I am also aware that cannabis-based medicinal products may be
legally prescribed in other countries," she said.

At the moment in Ireland, cannabis and cannabis-based medicinal
products are schedule one controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

They are considered as having "no medicinal use and their
manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and
possession is unlawful, except for the purposes of research," she said.

Ms Harney was responding to a question by Labour Deputy Joe Costello,
who had asked the minister if she would reconsider her decision not
to allow cannabis-based drugs to be used for the medical treatment of
multiple sclerosis sufferers and other patients.

He asked if her attention had been "drawn to the fact that such drugs
are legally prescribed in other countries".

Following the minister's response, Deputy Costello said: "Mary
Harney's reply to my parliamentary question is somewhat
contradictory. On one hand she states that cannabis and
cannabis-based products are considered as having no medicinal use.

"At the same time she is aware that cannabis-based medical products
may be legally prescribed in other countries and she is seeking
expert advice on whether or not to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to
allow for the use of cannabis-based medical products."