Dr. Lorraine Nolan:

Professor Finn is saying they may offer a less addictive alternative than cannabis. Nobody is denying the fact that opiates can be addictive medicines but the big difference in terms of opiates is that they are authorised medicines.

The Deputy mentioned products like OxyContin. That is a fully authorised medicine and the major difference in that is that we know OxyContin works; it treats pain. We also know it has side effects and negative impacts on one's health but we know the doses that should be given to patients.

We know how that should be monitored, how patients should be escalated and how it may interact with other medications they are on. If a patient adheres to a correct medically supervised regime in taking these medicines, they are very good forms of treatment. That is the first thing I have to say.