Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. I thank especially Ms Vera Twomey for her attendance. I cannot even imagine what it is like to deal with that number of seizures in a day. I have a family member with epilepsy and have only seen a couple of seizures. It is not an overly pleasant experience and it must be very difficult for her.

I am very heartened by the considered approach of the HPRA to this issue. As a community pharmacist by profession, I would almost say that all drugs are bad, in the sense that all drugs have side-effects and that a patient should never take something unless it is absolutely necessary. In light of previous failings of regulation with regard to Thalidomide and the incomplete trials and data of the past, I note that in the case of CBDB, an extremely complex and multi-targeted drug, it is very difficult to quantify potential side-effects when one cannot track exactly the effect of a drug or the response that it elicits within the system. I also make note of the statements regarding already-licensed drugs such as Keppra, Frisium, Rivotril and such products. As this meeting is in public session, it is important to note that children and families are using those medications at this time. I have a duty to state I would not like to see anybody taking those drugs away from their children because of the risk involved. I wish to say that in public session.

I assume that Dr. Doherty thinks that a consultant or medical professional would need to be involved in the titrating up of a dose of cannabis oil or products containing CBG or THC. A medical person should be involved in the titrating up of those drugs and perhaps in the reduction in dosages of other drugs in order that seizure thresholds are not reduced. As a medical person, I would strongly advocate that a medical professional prescriber be involved in all treatment programmes for people.

Following on from Deputy O'Brien's statement about the illicit use and medicinal use of cannabis, it is worth noting that diamorphine, which is heroin, is used in operating theatres all of the time. It comes in a completely different form than the block one sees on the telly when there has been a drugs seizure. When we talk about medicinal cannabis, it is very important to point out that it is a medicinal product in an oil form. It is not a case of doctors writing prescriptions and pharmacists shovelling grass into bags and sending them off with labels on them. It is a completely different concept and it is worth saying that in order that the argument is not put forward that we are legalising cannabis for people to use on the street, at home or wherever.