Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I read this document 20 minutes ago and found it good. Listening to Dr. Lorraine, however, I was disheartened. What are the terms of reference of the Minister's report? Who is involved and what policy and legislative expertise in terms of medical cannabis does the HPRA have? The Barnes report, which Dr. Nolan is familiar with, was conclusive on the benefits of medicinal cannabis.

I had very little knowledge of medical cannabis until eight months ago when I met a family from Clondalkin whose daughter had Dravet syndrome. I met Ms Twomey four or five months ago in Leinster House. The more that I find out about this plant and medicine, the more I am fascinated by its medicinal benefits. In the past five or six months, I have been astounded by the number of people who use cannabis for medicinal purposes. Shockingly, they are criminalised in some ways. They are not the usual suspects. They are ordinary citizens in very difficult circumstances for whom traditional medicine has not worked. Medical cannabis has worked. They should not be stigmatised or criminalised. I hope that the Bill I am proposing next week will open up the debate on medical cannabis. The movement for medical cannabis is unstoppable. Consider what has happened across Europe and the US. It will happen in Ireland.

There are many people in Ms Twomey's situation, in that they are almost drug resistant. I do not know about Ms Twomey, but in the case of the Clondalkin family, some of the drugs that the child has taken for Dravet syndrome are toxic. CBD oil has a major future.

Will Dr. Nolan explain the review and does it have a timeframe? This country is terrible for reviews, with situations dragging out and being put on the long finger. In the immediate term-----