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

I do not want to pre-empt the conclusion but given that this only affects a tiny number of people, we would lose a major opportunity for people who want to gain access to medical cannabis. We will see what the findings are. Obviously the Bill will be debated next Thursday. There is a groundswell in Ireland and across Europe that medical cannabis is here to stay. It could be of benefit to tens of thousands of people, including those suffering from MS, arthritis, cancer and epilepsy. It just goes on and on.

Dr. Doherty has made a very good point regarding the medical profession. We need to meet half way because if the medical profession does not buy in, it will be slightly difficult. We all have to buy into this - politicians, those who are using it, the medical profession and the HPRA. This will be beneficial for people who want it. The debate about medicinal use versus recreational use is a different debate. We have had a very healthy debate over recent months. We are having the debate about medicinal effects of cannabis. We will have the other debate another time. The times are changing and Ireland has to get into the mood of the 21st century that medical cannabis is here to stay.