Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 575: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No 179 of 29 June 2010, if she received the expert clinical advice that she has sought on this matter; if she intends to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1977 to allow doctors to prescribe Sativex; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31952/10]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 673: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she intends to have the drug Sativex made available to sufferers of MS and other related diseases in the immediate future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32799/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 673 together.

My Department is currently in the process of seeking expert clinical advice on the use of cannabis based medicinal products (such as Sativex) for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). If the expert advice indicates that the product Sativex is beneficial in the treatment of MS, my Department will examine what changes are required to the Misuse of Drugs legislation to allow for the possession, prescribing and dispensing of the medicinal product Sativex.